Lipbone Redding

That’s not a trombone you’re hearing...

It’s a human voice. Former subway musician Lipbone Redding revs up the party and makes lots of sounds with only his lips. He not only imitates a trombone, he is an accomplished soloist, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer. He's the Jazz, Blues, Jam and Soul version of a human beat-box ... Make that a “Human Sweet Box.”
Inventive voicestrumentalist and Southern Gentleman, Lipbone Redding, creates original songs that effervesce with New Orleans swing, Memphis… Show more grooves and New York City style.

"...Redding himself - who just could be the hottest trombonist around"
- Jim Primock, Colorado Blues Society

Storyteller, songwriter, guitarist and voice-stramentalist Lipbone Redding, has spent the last 20 years traveling the world collecting and recounting exotic tales through music and performance art.

With humble beginnings as a New York City subway singer, Lipbone now performs in festivals, theaters and concert halls across America and Europe.

What began as an attempt to populate his songs with more soloing, has become a trademark and an innovative instrument all its own. Redding worked the subways of New York City during the late night hours in 1998 through 2001 singing soulful ballads and stomping out echoey grooves. Late one night when a crowd of weary straphangers had gathered on the northbound side of the uptown 6 platform at Spring street, something amazing happened. Always prone to imitating sounds and people, Redding began using his voice as a wordless solo instrument over the funky strumming of his acoustic guitar, a kind of wailing that bounced from wall to wall in the subterranean cavern. He reformed the shape of his lips and by accident the sound resembled a brass instrument. Long slow sliding tones and bright brash explosions of musical joy. The commuters smiled and applauded as the train pulled into the station. Thus was born, "The Lip Trombone."

“Thankfully Lipbone Redding is far more than just his ability to make
trombone sounds with his mouth and turns out not only to be a decent songwriter but an intelligent & skilled musician."
- Richard Marcus, Blog Critics

After Traveling the world for several years, performing with musical artists from many cultures and with extended visits to South America and India, Lipbone came back to New York. He worked tirelessly to advance his performing career by playing in cafe's, bars and restaurants. He recorded and printed his own CD's and sold thousands of copies. Several months later, he had 4 steady shows a week as a solo artist. It was not long after his return that he met bassist Jeff Eyrich at Mike Williams' "Soho Pickin' Party," a monthly packed house-party featuring new and well-known songwriters. The alchemy between Jeff and Lipbone was instantaneous and within weeks, along with drummer George Mel, they had secured steady gigs as a group at Jules Jazz Bistro, one of New York's hottest downtown jazz night-spot. One night Lipbone and his band performed following famed comedian Joan Rivers at The Cutting Room with drummer, Rich Zukor. The combination was an instant success and The LipBone Orchestra was born. The three haven't looked back since.

“Lipbone Redding brings new meaning to using one’s voice as an instrument.
The Lipbone Orchestra is in fact a trio, but can get away with
the implication of that there is as stage full of musicians.” - NY1

In 2007 BePop Records released Lipbone's first album, "Hop The Fence," produced by Jeff Eyrich and featuring The Lipbone Orchestra. The record moved to the #1 position in the JamBand Radio charts and remained there for months. The song "Dogs Of Santiago" became a staple of DJ's at NPR and community radio stations across the country. Recorded, manufactured and promoted on a shoestring budget, the record was an Indie success.

It was also at this time that Lipbone began collaborating with Broadway Director/Choreographer Bill T. Jones on an evening length work entitled Chapel/Chapter. Along with musicians Chris Lancaster, Daniel Bernard Roumain and Alician Hall Moran, Lipbone helped to create a score that was heralded by the press and audiences alike. Chapel/Chapel toured internationally until 2009 and won several awards including the 2007 Bessie Award for Best Collaborative Effort and the 2008 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production.

“The quite remarkable music plays a vital role in the overall impact.
It is keening, churchy, measured, and intense.” - John Rockwell, New York Times

Teaming up with agent and visual genius, Karen Grossman, Lipbone Redding and The Lipbone Orchestra, began to capitalize on the radio success of "Hop The Fence," by visiting radio stations and securing their place in festivals, theaters and clubs across America. They released the follow-up record "Party On The Fire Escape" to a waiting public. The record was a departure from the "One take" vibe of the debut album with more production time in the studio, but the result was another acclaimed album from The Lipbone Orchestra. The band was delving deeper into the southern roots with songs like "Voodoo Cadillac," and the funky 70's soul inspired "Ghetto Girl," "Chandra" a fond remembrance of a trek up the Ganges river, and tongue in cheek bawdiness in "Single Again." The title track "Party On The Fire Escape" was a tip of the hat to Lipbone's newfound roots in The Bronx and a successful radio single.

Lipbone and his "Orchestra" continue touring on the heels of their latest EP "Science of Bootyism" offering four new tracks. The fellas continue to polish their groove and expand their touring. They offer workshops and perform with and for young musicians throughout their journey. All the while, Lipbone continues to write new songs for an upcoming album, slated for release in spring 2010 a book about his adventures and a new performance project loosely based on Dexter Filkins' book "The Forever War."
Let the road go on forever...

---- http://www.lipbone.com

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