Michele Rosewoman

Hailing from a musically steeped family in northern California, the stirring and adventurous pianist Michele Rosewoman possesses a distinctive sound all her own. Piano lessons began for her at age six, followed during adolescence by studies under pianist Ed Kelly. Extensive local work preceded her 1977 relocation to New York. Performances and recordings there soon paired her with forward-thinking musicians such as Oliver Lake, Billy Bang, Greg Osby, M-Base members, and numerous others. Her own initiatives, however, have always taken precedence. Grounded in Cuban percussion and African music, she has guided the versatile big band New Yor-Uba—an ensemble that remains unrecorded—on an occasional basis since the mid-’80s, alongside her quintet Quintessence. Stimulating sessions under her leadership appeared on Soul Note, Enja, Evidence, and Blue Note. In this way she emerged as one of the unsung leaders of the jazz avant-garde during the 1990s, all while staying rooted in the tradition.