Is the band Artemis a “female” band, or a band that happens to be made up of females? The fact that I’m asking shows how male-dominated jazz is, and how XX chromosome bands always seem like a novelty. Well, the only novel thing here is the talent, and its bubbling over, with original members Renee Rosnes/p, Allison Miller/dr, Ingrid Jensen/tp, Noriko Ueda/b joined by new kids on the block Nicole Glover/ts and Alexa Tarantino/ss-asfl for a collection of post bopping originals and a couple covers.–
Of the latter, the opening “Slink” has some clean and serpentine lines led by Jensen’s muted trumpet and guided by Rosnes’ flowing piano, whereas “Penelope” bookends the album with soft and melancholic tones. At times, the band has a feel like Herbie Hancock circa Speak Like a Child with Tarantino’s lovely flute and Rosnes in a rippling mood on “Whirlwind” while the horns hover on the flowing “Balance of Time”. Ueda and Miller dig in with flexing muscles on “Bow and Arrow” with the former soloing with Glover on the bopping “Lights Away From Home”. The most frisky piece is the bright a nd bold “Empress Afternoon” that is as loose as liquid mercury while some growling brass creates some wild harmonies on the loose “Timber”. When are these ladies coming to town? WHEW!