Meet… Renee Rosnes

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Renee Rosnes

West Orange pianist-composer Renee Rosnes has always loved the music of Brazil. On her new Crossing Paths album (Smoke Sessions Records), she merges samba, frevo (like a South American polka) and afoxe (a folkloric strain similar in energy to New Orleans music) into a pastiche of modern jazz. This mix’n’match aesthetic is ably brought to life by a super-session of A-List cats like sax man Chris Potter, trombonist Steve Davis, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Adam Cruz, percussionist Rogerio Boccato, singer Maucha  Adnet, flutist Shelley Brown and two guests—bossa nova pioneer Edu Lobo on guitar and singer-songwriter Joyce Moreno who makes the  rather-rhythmic Portuguese  language itself sound like scat-singing. Rosnes will be performing live in New York City at the Village Vanguard March 4-9, in Baltimore March 13 & 14 at The Keystone Korner, and back in NYC April 29/30 and May 1/4 at The Blue Note.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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Meet… Kathleen Elle