The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet — and drums — are an interesting group, as are most of the musical caravans who drift through the oasis of the Arcata Playhouse. Named in homage to the late, pioneering, transgender saxophonist Billy Tipton, this all-female sax quartet — again, with drums added — has a wide range of styles at their flesh-to-metal fingertips, spanning the language of world music and jazz, from big-band standards to modern free improvisational spirals. From the roots to the sky, this stuff hits. And 7 p.m. on a Tuesday night isn’t much of an ask, nor is the $20 entrance fee.
This article appears in There’s a Fish Market Splashing into Eureka.
The $20 entrance fee isn’t much of an ask? I beg to differ! $40 for a concert my wife and I would dearly love to attend is, unfortunately, way too much of an ask. I wish writers would not make assumptions about people’s financial capabilities, including us seniors living just above the poverty line. At a time when the price of eggs is hovering around $1 apiece, we will have to attend The Tiptons’ performances on YouTube instead. Thankfully, there are plenty of them to fill an evening at home. And we might even make it more special by scrambling a few of those eggs.