Renee Rosnes is one of the premier jazz pianists and composers of her generation

Renee Rosnes is one of the premier jazz pianists and composers of her generation. Canadian born, she began classical studies at age three and began to play jazz during her high school years. Shortly after relocating to New York from Vancouver in 1986, she swiftly established a reputation as a major talent. She toured and recorded with many of the greatest masters, attracting international attention and building a resume that reads like a who’s who of jazz, including stints with Joe Henderson, JJ Johnson, Wayne Shorter, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band with Jon Faddis, James Moody, and Bobby Hutcherson.

Rosnes has released a series of twelve diverse recordings, nine of which are on the legendary Blue Note label. Four have garnered Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy. Her latest release is Black Narcissus: an album celebrating the music of Joe Henderson with longtime collaborators bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash. It was recently honored with a “Gold Disc Award” from Japan’s Swing Journal magazine. Other recent releases featuring Ms. Rosnes are: Bobby Hutcherson: For Sentimental Reasons and the SFJAZZ Collective Live 2009: The Music of McCoy Tyner and Original Works.

From its inception in 2004 through 2009, Renee Rosnes held the piano chair for the SFJAZZ Collective, an all-star ensemble that featured many contemporary luminaries including saxophonists Joshua Redman, Joe Lovano, alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon and trumpeters Nicholas Payton and Dave Douglas among others. During her tenure with the octet, Ms. Rosnes contributed six commissioned works and several original arrangements of music by Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and McCoy Tyner.

In addition to performing with her trio and quartet, Rosnes often collaborates with her husband, pianist Bill Charlap, in a two piano setting.

"Rosnes offers exquisite balances of delicacy and power, witty and weighted ideas, assertiveness and deference.” - Down Beat

“If you looked closely, you would have sworn you saw steam rising from the piano at the (Village )Vanguard.” - The New York Sun