Mary-Sue Tobin profile picture

Mary-Sue Tobin

About Me

Mary-Sue Tobin received a Masters of Music in Saxophone Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Portland State University where she served as the graduate teaching assistant for the jazz studies department. She has played and studied with many of the Portland jazz luminaries (including: Glen Moore, Darrell Grant, Thara Memory, Alan Jones, Rob Scheps and many others) in addition to leading her own groups.Current performing ensembles include: Andrew Oliver Sextet, Portland Jazz Orchestra, Paxselin Quartet, Lily Wilde Orchestra, Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, Quadraphonnes, Soul Vaccination, Art Abrams Swing Machine, PDX Saxophone Quartet, Swamp Cactus, Diatic Records Collective, The Groove, Never Say Never and Sound for the Organization of Society. She performs regularly with The Oregon Symphony Pops (Pointer Sisters, Johnny Mathis) and has appeared at numerous Jazz Festivals (including The Portland Jazz Festival, The Mount Hood Jazz Festival, The Vancouver Wine and Cheese Jazz Festival, The Banff International Jazz Festival) and has shared the stage with international jazz and R&B stars such as Dave Douglas, The Temptations, James Moody and Esperanza Spalding.She appears in the movie "Hear No Evil" with the group Dub Squad and has toured internationally with the groups Flatland and Dub Squad, opening up for legends like Herbie Hancock, Steel Pulse and Third World. She has recorded and performed with numerous Regional and International artists and continues to lead her own projects when time allows.MST maintains a full studio of students both privately and through Beacock's Music Education Center where she also directs band and teaches jazz improvisation seminars. She also serves as an adjudicator for NW solo/ensemble festivals.Events in 2007 included: a performance with The Portland Saxophone Quartet at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, the release of the new Paxselin Quartet CD, "Hollow Earth" on Diatic Records, a three month extended run as part of the Portland Center Stage production of "Cabaret", playing saxophone and reeds. Recent events include: Performances at the 2007 Portland Jazz Festival with Portland Jazz Orchestra, Andrew Oliver Sextet, Diatic Records Collective and The Quadraphonnes, the release of the new Andrew Oliver Sextet CD, "Otis Stomp" on Diatic Records, the creation of the NW Saxophone Chamber Series.Recent events include: performances with PDX Saxophone Quartet and Quadraphonnes for the NW Saxophone Chamber Series at The Old Church, a record release and West Coast tour with Sound for the Organization of Society, a recording session with Portland Jazz Orchestra and a busy spring and summer calendar.She and her family live in Portland, OR where she teaches, records and performs professionally.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/01/2007
Band Website: www.marysuetobin.com
Band Members: Partial Discography:1. Available NOW: "Otis Stomp", Andrew Oliver Sextet, 2008, Diatic Records, www.myspace.com/andrewjoliver, www.diaticrecords.com2. To be released in the Spring: Untitled as yet, Sound for the Organization of Society, 2008, Independent, www.myspace.com/soundfortheorganizationofsociety3. Available NOW: "Hollow Earth", Paxselin Quartet, 2007, Diatic Records, www.diaticrecords.com, www.myspace.com/paxselinquartet4. "Better Living Through Chemistry", Swamp Cactus, 2006, Sad Hyena Records, www.swampcactus.com5. "Four Decades", Swamp Cactus, 2005, Sad Hyena Records, www.swampcactus.com6. "Standing Still Mountain", Andrew Oliver, 2005, Self Produced, www.myspace.com/andrewjoliver7. "A Guide To Desolation Wilderness", Paxselin Quartet, 2004, SH Records, www.cdbaby.com/paxselin8. "To B", Flatland, 2002, Clandestine Records9. "Stick It In Your Ear", MST and the A-List, 1998, SH Records10. "American Dreams", Loud Sistah, 1996, Self Produced11. "Tonic of the People", Dub Squad, 1990, Tonic MediaOther Artists MST has recorded with include: Chris Newman, Snow Bud and the Flower People, Oblivion Seekers, Brad Davis and the Kansas City Rhythm Kings and many other local and regional artists.
Influences: Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderly, Ornette Coleman, Steve Lacy, Wayne Shorter, Dewey Redman, Maceo Parker, Mike Patton, Chet Baker, Eric Dolphy, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington, Sidney Bechet, Charles Mingus, Volapuk, Steve Reich, John Zorn, Marvin Gaye, Claude Delange, Carla Bley, Tin Hat Trio, King Crimson, Dionne Warwick with Burt Bacharach, Alban Berg, David Sanborn, Pixies, Faith No More, Mahalia Jackson, 60's Girl Groups, ACDC, NWA, World Music of all kinds, Penderecki, Jimmy Guiffrie, Benny Goodman, Paul Simon, Cibo Matto, ICP Orchestra, Michael Brecker, Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Jobim, Bjork, Beatles, Zepplin, Rashaan Roland Kirk, Steely Dan, Frank Sinatra, P Funk, Prince, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Ella, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday, Coltrane, Phil Woods, Sophia Guibadailina, David Byrne, Stevie Wonder, Steve Grossman, Steve Coleman, Bernard Hermann, Russian Novelists, American 20th Century Composers, Cole Porter, Modern Architecture, Complex coffee and red wine, Surrealist Artists, All the wonderful musicians I play with and have played with, all my teachers from years gone by.
Sounds Like: Saxophones: Alto/Selmer Mark VI/1961 with opened up (Jeff Holman) vintage NY Meyer with MH La Voz reeds for jazz and a Selmer C* with Van Doren 4's for classical; Tenor/OH YEAH! A "new" Mark VI baby, compliments (that means I'm buying it on payments...:-) of Aaron Barnes (God bless you!) with my Morgan, etc, and, of course, on stand by (that means it's in hawk...:-) my Conn "Naked Lady" 10M/1950 with the Morgan EL, La Voz MH reeds; Soprano/Selmer Series II with Selmer C*, Van Doren 4's - jazz and classical, plus a vintage curved Buescher with vintage mouthpiece; Baritone/new Yamaha with opened up metal Berg Larsen (borrowed from Gary Harris - that means I owe him $100.00 and a bottle of, um, I forget what he likes, I think it's, no, wait, I can't think for the life of me the brand he likes....!) and RRRRRicos; Flute/Pearl (silver with a low B - I hate to brag); Clarinet/Buffet R13 and an old wood Selmer
Record Label: Diatic Records, SH Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

MST Gigs this weekend

What I'm doing this weekend: Friday, July 24th CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (Blue Cranes + Paxselin Quartet)@ 2009 PDX Pop Now! Festival Schedule: www.pdxpopnow.org/schedule @ Rotture 320 SE 2nd Ave, PortlandO...
Posted by on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:41:00 GMT

New Jazz Series @ DiPrima Dolci starts This Thursday!

Hello friends and colleagues. Andrew Oliver and I are proud to announce the line up for our new Jazz Series: Jazz Bakery @ DiPrima. The concerts will be outside at the lovely DiPrima Dolci and feature...
Posted by on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:58:00 GMT

Summer Nights with Soul Vaccination!

 In my quest to play every obscure Oregon town in the general area, tonight I once again head out on OR-30, this time passing Scappoose and ending up in Warren, OR. Tomorrow it's Tualatin. I am prepar...
Posted by on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:52:00 GMT

portland jazz composers' ensemble@ old church, soul vacc summer concerts

I'm a little tired right now so I'll leave it to two of my band leaders, Andrew and Dave respectively, to give you the details on this weekend's gigs. Don't worry. I'll have gotten some more sleep by ...
Posted by on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:24:00 GMT

MST FOURTH OF JULY/BLUES FEST GIGS

 Well. What can I say. It's time for Blues Festival. Portland's Own. Biggest West of the Mississippi. It's also Fourth of July Weekend and it's sunny already. What the heck is going on?! WTH?!Mmmmkay....
Posted by on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:11:00 GMT

Gigs w/CMG Ensemble @ Worksound and Todd Bishop's Pop Art on KMHD and JMaks

Hello friends and colleagues. I have been released from the pit orchestra and am back to my usual and sometimes unusual gig schedule. These are three pretty cool shows. See you soon. w/Todd Bishop POP...
Posted by on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:06:00 GMT

Andrew Oliver Sextet. Saturday night at Curious Comedy Club

Hey people. I am, in fact, still gigging, despite being locked (it's consensual, no worries - I like it!) backstage at Portland Center Stage six nights (and twice on Thursdays and alternating weekends...
Posted by on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:44:00 GMT

Portland Jazz Orchestra, Quadraphonnes: 5/15 and 5/16

Tonight! Friday, May 15thPortland Jazz Orchestra, Intricate Rhythms with Arturo O'Farrill (smoking Latin Jazz with special guests, Bobby Torres and dancing)@ Crystal Ballroom 7:30PM, All Ages, $20+ ww...
Posted by on Fri, 15 May 2009 14:13:00 GMT

Andrew Oliver Sextet and Blue Cranes @ MP, Quads @ Music Millennium, Todd Bishop @ Holocene

Well Dan Duval has done my work for me this week since he is on all my gigs this week. Well except the Quad gig of course. Who would think a guitar player would beat me to a gig email? Nice Dan. Here'...
Posted by on Tue, 05 May 2009 14:49:00 GMT

Soul Vacc and Pax + Blue Cranes = Chamber of Commerce this weekend.

Happy Mayday! Workers of the Worlds Unite!  And speaking of working, I'm happy to be working with these wonderful musicians/bands this weekend - my people!  Hope to see you there. Saturday, May 2nd SO...
Posted by on Fri, 01 May 2009 11:06:00 GMT