Recording of the Week,Artemis - Arboresque(presto)

Though originally formed in 2016 for International Women’s Day by pianist and bandleader Renee Rosnes, the New York-based ensemble rose to fame nine years ago when they performed a legendary show at Newport Jazz Festival and were signed by Blue Note shortly after. Since then they’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, released their debut album entitled Artemis, followed by Artemis: In Real Time in 2023, and now comes their latest instalment in Arboresque. In a time where female recognition and representation in jazz is higher than ever, Artemis is paving the way for plenty to follow in their remarkable footsteps.  

The current lineup of Artemis is a quintet consisting of mainly founding members: Renee Rosnes (piano), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Allison Miller (drums), Noriko Ueda (bass) and more recent member Nicole Glover (tenor saxophone). Previous members include Anat Cohen, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Melissa Aldana, so regardless of the lineup, Artemis has always had the finest musicians attached to its identity. On Arboresque, the tracklist is made up from each member of the quintet composing one piece each, as well as three additional arrangements from Rosnes that cover material from Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach and Donald Brown. The two-horn frontline set-up evokes the signature 1960s hard bop sound across the album, reminiscent of notorious ensembles such as the Jazz Messengers and Miles' Second Great Quintet. 

Arboresque opens with an arrangement from Rosnes in Donald Brown’s “The Smile of a Snake”. With the low pulsing piano riff and a crunchy melody from the horns, it certainly gives a noir-feel. Jensen’s “Sights Unseen” has Rosnes switch to the Fender Rhodes, where the blend of electronics, the crisp drumming from Miller and the inventive and detailed soloing across the horns offsets nicely against the pulsing energy that underpins the piece. The Latin-style “Olive Tree” is a Rosnes original, inspired by the Spanish olive groves that the band encountered whilst on tour. The responsive and dynamic drumming from Miller is the perfect foundation for colourful solos. Rosnes is energetic on the piano, Jensen’s trumpet solo is brimming with lyricism and Ueda’s bass is rich and assertive.  

Another standout is a tribute to Wayne Shorter in Rosnes’ arrangement of “Footprints”. Rosnes played in Shorter's band in the 80s, an influence that has remained with her throughout her career. She has crafted a beautiful arrangement that draws on the original composition but is given the Artemis treatment. Glover shines with expressive technical precision and the ensemble plays seamlessly. The collective sound they create is riveting, and it’s clear to hear why the band has received so much praise for their ability to gel together. On their third album together their rapport is undeniable, ideas are quickly undertaken and responded to without hesitation, and it sounds as though the band is just simply having a wonderful time playing with one another. 

Recognised by listeners and critics alike as a multi-generational and international powerhouse of jazz, Artemis are an outstanding ensemble that certainly meet the high expectations that their reputation demands. The calibre of playing from each individual, combined with a heavy dose of musical intuition, makes their combined sound an inevitable success. A pillar of jazz today, but also a beacon of inspiration for aspiring female jazz musicians, Artemis has a notable list of names that reflect some of the most pioneering instrumentalists of our time. Putting them together is nothing short of magic.  

Maddy Allison

from https://www.prestomusic.com