Born: March 24, 1962 Primary Instrument: Piano
Canadian pianist and composer Renee Rosnes has had a remarkable career that has earned her significant international acclaim. She began classical piano studies at the age of three and became interested in jazz music in high school. Shortly after relocating from Vancouver to New York in 1986, she quickly established a reputation as a formidable talent. In late 1986, she was enlisted by tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson to join his quartet. In 1988, she spent a year with Wayne Shorter's Quintet, and in 1989, legendary trombonist JJ Johnson invited Rosnes to become his pianist. Ms. Rosnes has also performed with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band with Jon Faddis, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Tribute Band, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, and the Danish Radio Big Band. Having toured and recorded with many of the greatest masters, her resume reads like a who's who of jazz.
Since 1990, Ms. Rosnes has released a series of nine highly praised recordings on the Blue Note label, which have garnered four Juno Awards, and several Canadian National Jazz Awards. Aside from leading her own groups, Ms. Rosnes is also a member of the James Moody Quartet, frequently performs with vibist Bobby Hutcherson, and is a founding member of the San Francisco Jazz Collective: an all-star octet, that has featured such artists as Joshua Redman, Nicholas Payton and Joe Lovano.
