RENEE ROSNES
PIano
Renee Rosnes is one of the premier jazz pianists and composers of her generation. Upon moving to New York City from Vancouver, Canada in 1985, she quickly established a reputation of high regard, touring and recording for many years with such masters as Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, J.J. Johnson, Buster Williams and James Moody. She was a founding member of the all-star ensemble, the SFJAZZ Collective, with whom she toured and recorded for six years. Rosnes released her eponymously-titled debut album in 1990 on Blue Note Records, and went on to record 10 albums for the label.
“Crossing Paths” is Rosnes’ December 2024 release and instantly marks a highlight of her already remarkable career. It finds the pianist exploring masterpieces from the songbooks of Brazil’s most revered composers, entrancingly melding the beguiling rhythms of bossa nova, frevo, samba, afoxé, and other styles with Rosnes’ visionary approach to modern jazz. It features Brazilian musicians guitarist Chico Pinheiro, percussionist Rogério Boccato, vocalist Maucha Adnet, and American artists bassist John Patitucci, drummer Adam Cruz, saxophonist Chris Potter, trombonist Steve Davis, and flutist Shelley Brown. Thrillingly, the album is also graced by legendary artists and composers Edu Lobo and Joyce Moreno, who perform their own classic songs. Both provide a direct link to the “second generation” post Bossa Nova era, granting this new recording the imprimatur of some of the music’s pioneering artists.
In 2016, Written in the Rocks (Smoke Sessions) was named one of ten Best Jazz Albums of the Year by The Chicago Tribune, one of the Best Albums in all genres of music by The Nation, and was awarded a 2017 JUNO. JazzTimes wrote, “Ms. Rosnes delivers conceptual heft, suspenseful compositions and mesmerizing performances,” and from DownBeat, “An exceptional achievement. Written in the Rocks establishes - or reinforces - that Rosnes is a virtuoso composer. This is as good as writing can get in this setting.” The critically acclaimed Beloved of the Sky (Smoke Sessions) features master musicians Chris Potter, Steve Nelson, Peter Washington and Lenny White. The material on Rosnes' 2021 release, Kinds of Love (Smoke Sessions) was all composed and recorded during the pandemic. It features Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Carl Allen and Rogério Boccato. The Wall Street Journal called Rosnes' music "exotically intense" and the album was recognized with another Canadian JUNO Award, her sixth to date.
At the 2018 Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Renee received the Oscar Peterson Award, in recognition of her exceptional contributions in jazz. She is a 12-year member of the Ron Carter Quartet which is featured on the double album: “Ron Carter: Foursight / Live in Stockholm, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2.” (In’n Out Records). She is the founder of the powerful quintet ARTEMIS featuring Ingrid Jensen, saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Allison Miller. On February 28th the acclaimed collective will release their third album for Blue Note Records: ARBORESQUE.