Label: Blue Note Records, 2023
Personnel - Renee Rosnes: piano; Ingrid Jensen: trumpet; Alexa Tarantino: alto and soprano saxophone, flute; Nicole Glover: tenor saxophone; Noriko Ueda: bass; Allison Miller: drums.
In Real Time is a great sophomore album for Artemis, a proficient all-female sextet formed and led by pianist Renee Rosnes who played with luminaries such as Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, and Ron Carter. The group sounds maturer and more appealing here than in its 2020 debut, featuring two new faces in the lineup - saxophonists Alexa Tarantino and Nicole Glover replace Melissa Aldana and Anat Cohen, effortlessly joining Canadian trumpeter Ingrid Jensen in the frontline. Joining Rosnes once again in the rhythm section are bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Allison Miller.
Throughout eight phenomenally creative cuts, regardless of mood and pace, these jazz ladies always know where they’re heading, playing by feel and not just by composition. They begin with Lyle Mays’ “Slink”, where the unstoppable and accurate bass work of Ueda creates polyphony and a certain rhythmic undercurrent. Rosnes' layered arrangement shows ingenuity, and she embarks on a dazzling piano solo herself. The trumpetism of Jensen is equally remarkable, flying with impeccable enunciation, range and elasticity. The piece strikes with convulsive rhythmic energy in its denouement.
Miller’s “Bow and Arrow” is pure, sophisticated post-bop with modal inclination and a perceivable Latinization in the B section. The versatile drummer keeps the tune grounded, expanding her chops during the vamp that succeeds the trumpet and saxophone improvisations. She employs lazily brushed mechanisms on Rosnes’ ballad “Balance of Time”, which, going from a rubato intro to a 4/4 tempo, swerves into a waltz in its last 40 seconds.
The Ueda-penned “Lights Away From Home” swings blissfully with a Lee Morgan-esque vibe in the melody. This piece was inspired by a meteor shower observed in upstate New York. Carrying a completely distinct feel, Jensen’s odd-metered “Timber” was born from the love of trees but also concerns about what is happening to our forests. Horn sounds ping without throbbing, and the salient Fender Rhodes places chords in the right place, inviting to interaction.
The opening piece of Rosnes’ 2001 album Life on Earth, “Empress Afternoon” is included here. It’s a whimsical number served with Eastern and Latin touches that needs virtuosity to work efficiently, and the group responds to the call with dynamism - fervent and motivic saxophone eloquence, two-hand keyboardic dexterity with no shortcuts, irresistible trumpet lines with octave-effect, and sharp drum chops. The sextet concludes in waltz mode with “Penelope”, a tribute to Wayne Shorter, who penned it.
The cohesive jazz universe of Artemis can be universally understood. Working in harmony, the group advocates the true spirit of democracy where each musician leaves their own imprint. Here, they sound better than ever.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Bow and Arrow ► 05 - Timber ► 07 - Empress Afternoon