Renee Rosnes is one of the premier jazz pianists and composers of her generation. Upon moving to New York City from Vancouver, Canada, she quickly established a reputation of high regard, while touring and recording with such masters as Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, J.J. Johnson, James Moody and legendary bassist Ron Carter. She was a charter member of the all-star ensemble, the SFJAZZ Collective, with which she toured for six years.
Rosnes is the music director of Artemis, an all-star international band featuring the vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, clarinetist Anat Cohen, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Allison Miller. The band released its debut album on Blue Note Records in 2020. Rosnes began recording for Blue Note in 1990 and has released many acclaimed albums for the label, including “Ancestors,” “As We Are Now,” “Art & Soul” and “Life on Earth.”
She has produced concerts at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Over her career, Rosnes has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, from established masters such as Jack DeJohnette and tabla master Zakir Hussain, to younger giants such as Christian McBride, Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton and Melissa Aldana.
She is a formidable composer, and in 2003, was named SOCAN’s Composer of the Year. Her works have been performed and recorded by Phil Woods, J.J. Johnson, Lewis Nash, Joe Locke, the Danish Radio Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra and trombonist Michael Dease.
Aside from her work as a leader, Rosnes is a member of bassist Ron Carter’s Quartet and often performs with her husband, acclaimed pianist Bill Charlap. The couple released “Double Portrait” on Blue Note in 2010, of which DownBeat wrote: “The counterpoint and compatibilities are so perfectly balanced, the selections and arrangements so handsome, that ‘Double Portrait’ is a prize.” The piano duo was also featured on four tracks from the 2016 Grammy Award-winning album “Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap: The Silver Lining — The Songs of Jerome Kern.”
At the 2018 Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, Rosnes received the Oscar Peterson Award, in recognition of her contributions in jazz. Also in 2018, Rosnes became the artistic director of the Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival, based in Toronto.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
