Pianist, composer and educator Michele Rosewoman is the second recipient of Mutual Mentorship for Musicians’ annual lifetime achievement award.
The new initiative — called M³ for short — was created by multi-instrumentalist Jen Shyu and vocalist Sara Serpa with a mission of elevating and empowering women and non-binary jazz and creative musicians.
Rosewoman has been a fearless bandleader and mentor for four decades. To date, she has released nine recordings as a leader on Blue Note, Enja, SoulNote, Toshiba-EMI and her own label, Advance Dance Disques. Since 1983, she has led the New Yor-Uba ensemble, which presents a fusion of contemporary jazz and traditional Cuban folkloric music. Many have cited Rosewoman’s indelible influence on their artistic development as musicians, composers and bandleaders.
M³ will present its lifetime achievement award to Rosewoman during a ceremony at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem on June 13.
In three years, M³ has commissioned 60 women, non-binary and mostly BIPOC musicians to create 30 collaborative music and video works across five cohort cycles, while also facilitating education and mentorship opportunities.