Amy Denio is a Seattle-based multi-instrumental composer of soundtracks for modern dance, film and theater, as well as a songwriter and music improviser. Her inspirations include world music, and is mainly known as a vocalist, accordionist and saxophone-player. Among her current musical involvements are The Tiptons Sax Quartet (formerly The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet) and Die Resonanz Stanonczi, a radical folk group based in Salzburg, Austria. She has also collaborated repeatedly with the Pat Graney Dance Company, David Dorfman Dance Company, Victoria Marks, and with many other choreographers.
Her first recording was No Bones released as a cassette on her record label Spoot Music in 1986. Her first LP was with the Entropics. She founded Tiptons in 1987, and also started Tone Dogs with bassist Fred Chalenor. She has performed and recorded with (among others) Matt Cameron, KMFDM, Curlew, Fred Frith, Pointless Orchestra, Francisco López, Danny Barnes, Pale Nudes, Blowhole, the Danubians, The Science Group, Chris Cutler, Guy Klucevsek, Pauline Oliveros, Relâche Ensemble, Hoppy Kamiyama, Derek Bailey, Chuck D, Dennis Rea, Bill Rieflin, Quintetto alla busara, Kultur Shock and the Shaking Ray Levis.
Amy Denio attended Brookside School and Kingswood School Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating in 1979. She became an autodidactic musician at age 12, quitting piano and starting guitar. She attended Colorado College, and also Hampshire College, graduating in Music Composition and Improvisation from Hampshire in 1984. She is self-taught on guitar, electric bass, drums, saxophone, clarinet, accordion, and various world instruments.
Playlist :
Amy Denio : Sax Quartet (No Elevators - Sound Of Pig - 1988)
Amy Denio : I Wear Guns When I'm Dancing (No Bones - Spoot Music -1986)
Amy Denio : Diswasher (Birthing Chair Blues - Knitting Factory Works - 1991)
Amy Denio : Gifts (Birthing Chair Blues - Knitting Factory Works - 1991)
Amy Denio : All Together Now (the making of) (Corona Sonora - 2020)
Tone Dogs: Poly (Ankety Low Day - C/Z Records -1990)
Lao Tse & The Entropics: Total Communication (Spagga! - “Bandcamp”- 1987)
Couch of Sound : Calypso (Couch of Sound - - 1988)
Ou : Non C’è Niente da Lavare (Scrambled! - Public Eyesore - 2015)
Kultur Shock : Haram Para (D.R.E.A.M. - Kultur Shock Records - 2019)
Billly Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet : Saxhouse(Saxhouse - Knitting Factory Works - 1993)
The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet & Ne Zhdali : Wheel of Fortune (Pollo D'oro - No Man's Land - 1998)