Renee Rosnes | Crossing Paths Review

by Illiam Sebitz

In Crossing Paths, Renee Rosnes shares her homage to Brazilian music traditions as she illuminates the dynamic conversation between American jazz and the multifaceted grooves, colors, and passions of Brazil. A veteran pianist and composer with decades of acclaim, Rosnes has long demonstrated a command of modern jazz harmony and form. But here, she embarks on a journey through frevo, bossa nova, samba, and beyond, blending rhythmic vitality with the lyricism that defines her voice. Crossing Paths is a culmination of Rosnes’ artistic curiosity and deep respect for the musical vocabularies of Latin America. Her expression comes from how her phrasing, arrangements, and improvisational choices create a cross-cultural dialogue that is as musically engaging as it is emotionally stirring.

Rosnes’ fluency in modern jazz is never diluted in her exploration of Brazilian traditions; rather, she leverages her harmonic concepts and architectural phrasing to enrich the music’s natural sway. Her percussive attack and sculpted phrasing ground each performance, with ideas that land deliberately, whether spun from lyrical motifs or dazzling technical runs. In her hands, Brazilian rhythmic forms become fertile ground for jazz logic.

Throughout the album, she constructs arrangements that move between written and improvised material. Tracks bloom with shifts in texture, dynamics, and ensemble color, always in service of narrative flow. Whether in the ecstatic syncopations of “Frevo” or the romantic wistfulness of “Pra Dizer Adeus,” Rosnes curates a sonic journey that is enjoyable.

The album opens with “Frevo” (Egberto Gismonti), where Rosnes’ arrangement ignites the rhythmic engine of the piece. Her improvisational trading with guitarist Chico Pinheiro is a kinetic dialogue that feels like a celebratory conversation. The ensemble builds toward a spirited shout chorus that showcases her compositional flair, orchestrating a full-band climax bursting with color and drive. In contrast, “Pra Dizer Adeus” (Edu Lobo) offers a flow of melodic grace. Rosnes supports the vocal lines of Lobo with luminous chordal textures and delicate fills, allowing emotion to take center stage while guiding the harmony with intuitive subtlety.

On “Trilhos Urbanos” (Caetano Veloso), Rosnes acts as a textural architect, providing contrapuntal lines and subtle reharmonizations that let the melody unfold with narrative clarity. Her arrangement uses the ensemble’s range to evoke the bustle and introspection of urban life. “Canta, Canta Mais” (Jobim / de Moraes) finds her balancing tradition and reinterpretation, her lush voicings cradling Maucha Adnet’s vocal phrases while the rhythm section responds in kind, creating an atmosphere of conversational elegance.

“Casa Forte” (Edu Lobo) shows the ensemble’s Latin jazz intensity. Rosnes’ solo is lively yet fluid, propelled by a passionate drive that mirrors the melodic rhythm underneath her. Her lines cascade with logic and clarity, each phrase shaped with purpose. “Essa Mulher” (Joyce Moreno) is a standout for its interplay. Chris Potter’s soprano saxophone sets a fiery tone, and Rosnes responds with a solo that mirrors and extends his harmonic and rhythmic vocabulary. Their exchange is a reflection of the album’s conversational spirit.

The joy and groove of “Amor Até O Fim” (Gilberto Gil) are palpable. Rosnes’ Rhodes delivers a solo infused with rhythmic playfulness and melodic sparkle. “Estórias da Floresta” (Nascimento / Brant) shifts the scene to an atmospheric tableau. The ensemble shapes the melody and counterlines with collective breath and intuition, with Rosnes guiding the tutti sections through expressive phrasing that conjures a vivid aural forest.

“Caminhos Cruzados” (Jobim / Mendonça) offers Rosnes’ approach to the melody with poise and restraint, allowing each harmonic shift to bloom. Her interpretation here is lyrical and combines modern jazz with Brazilian music in a manner that reaffirms the album’s thematic depth.

The Brazilian rhythm and jazz phrasing and coloring flow throughout the ensemble’s interactions.  Their interactions are not only tight but inspired. Drummer Adam Cruz and percussionist Rogério Boccato, in particular, complement Rosnes’ rhythmic instincts. Meanwhile, the vocalists invite a beuatiful impressionistic side from her, especially in tracks like “Pra Dizer Adeus” and “Essa Mulher.”

Across the album, Rosnes makes musical statements as a soloist and musical conversationalist. Whether guiding the ensemble through orchestrated tutti passages with her writing or responding to a colleague’s improvisation, her presence is grounding and generative. Each track offers lyrical improvisation, ensemble communication, and cross-cultural integration. Rosnes demonstrates how Brazilian forms can serve as inspiration and framework for today’s jazz expressions. Crossing Paths plays like a reflection of Renee Rosnes’ artistic curiosity and ability to move fluidly between jazz and Brazilian vocabularies.

Artist: Renee Rosnes
Album: Crossing Paths
Label: Smoke Sessions Records

Release Date: December 6, 2024

About the author

Illiam Sebitz

Born and raised in a picturesque European village, my fondness for music began during my formative years, when the charismatic tones of the recorder first filled the halls of my primary school. This early fascination escalated into my lifelong pursuit of embracing the melodious charm of the flute; I have even spent time refining my skills at a music conservatoire. As a seasoned music connoisseur, I find myself captivated by the multifaceted world of music. I enjoy writing music reviews to better enable me to explore genres as diverse as world, rock, jazz, classical, folk, and film music, each offering a unique auditory journey that enriches my life and intellect.

In my spare moments, you'll likely find me meticulously crafting my latest woodworking project, sharpening my skills with flute etudes, or inventing tales of fantasy through the art of creative writing. My eclectic interests and expertise harmonize to create a symphony of passion and curiosity that resonates within every aspect of my life as a music enthusiast.