6 Facts about Artemis: The Godesses of Jazz
January 3, 2020
By Kristen Day
There’s always something new to love within the world of jazz. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of syncopation, it’s time you meet Artemis. Named for the Greek goddess of the hunt, the all-female supergroup is tearing up the jazz scene. Other than scoring featured spots in several national Jazz festivals and profiles in Variety and Rolling Stone, the sextet just scored a contract with Blue Note Records. So before you see them on January 17th at Purdue, here are 6 facts about the women of Artemis.
- If you love Artemis, thank pianist and musical director, Renee Rosnes. She handpicked the group for an international jazz tour in 2017. The crew began performing under the name Artemis soon after.
- Anat Cohen, clarinet, is a master of her craft. She’s been the Jazz Journalist Association’s reigning Clarinetist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association every year since 2007. Plus she’s a 2017 Grammy award nominee.
- Can you spell virtuoso? Originally from Hyogo, Japan, bassist Noriko Ueda started studying classical piano at the age of 4.
- Drummer Allison Miller might look a little familiar! She’s shared stages with Ani DiFranco, Natalie Merchant and has been featured on the Meredith Vieira Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers.
- When tenor sax player Melissa Aldana isn’t busy releasing award-winning albums, she’s breaking glass ceilings. In 2013, she became the first female musician and the first South American musician to win the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.
- Last but not least, for trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, girl power is nothing new. Her sister, Christine Jensen is also an accomplished saxophone player. Watch them play together here:
Feeling jazzed about this stellar sextet? Catch Artemis on January 17th at Loeb Playhouse.