Lips -

Lips was an American jazz-rock band that made a 1979 self-titled album, produced by Stanley Clarke.

Members: Al Harrison (trumpet, flugelhorn), Al “Alfie” Williams (baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, flute), Bob Malach (tenor saxophone), James Tinsley (trumpet, flugelhorn)

Background

Lips grew from the four-man horn section of Stanley Clarke’s School Days touring band, which by June 1977 paired trumpeters Al Harrison and James Tinsley with reedists Al “Alfie” Williams and Bob Malach. The quartet played Clarke dates at Hammersmith Odeon in London and the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, then joined his Modern Man sessions.

Philadelphia-born Williams learned saxophone and oboe in junior high and studied bassoon at Settlement Music School. He attended Philadelphia Musical Academy with Clarke and the Lee & Brown rhythm duo. Williams then toured and recorded with Mongo Santamaria until Clarke recruited him for the School Days band.

Malach was born Aug. 23, 1954, in Philadelphia and came from a musical family. He played with Lee and Brown in high school, moved to New York in 1976, and studied with reedist Eddie Daniels. Malach and Harrison shared horn duties on 1976/77 albums by Dexter Wansel (Life on Mars, What the World Is Coming To) and Art Webb (Love Eyes).

Tinsley entered Clarke’s circle after work with Woody Herman and a 1977 stint with Return to Forever. He recorded Musicmagic at Caribou Ranch and played the May Palladium concerts in New York, then joined Clarke’s solo band alongside Harrison, Williams, and Malach. The four musicians entered the studio as Lips under Clarke’s production for a self-titled Nemperor album.

Discography: