New York City based musician and composer Roxy Coss is making a name for herself as a versatile, original voice within the vibrant and thriving jazz scene today. All About Jazz is saying, “Coss is head and shoulders above many of the gifted, well-schooled young people who are trying to get a toehold in the intensely competitive NYC jazz and improvised music scenes. Her multiple talents are worthy of wider recognition, right now.”
Roxy’s exploration of musical styles emerged from an exceptional base in bebop, and has grown into a diverse and creative mix of genres which manifests in her playing, composing, and arranging. Her mastery of instruments extends from her primary instrument, tenor saxophone, to flute, soprano and alto saxes, and clarinet.
Originally from Seattle, WA, Roxy began winning awards for her composition at the age of 9. She went on to receive numerous soloist awards at various jazz festivals, including Outstanding Saxophone Soloist at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition in 2004, while playing first Tenor chair in the acclaimed Garfield High School Jazz Band.
Roxy accepted a full Presidential Scholarship to attend William Paterson University in NJ after receiving scholarship offers from some of the top music schools. At WPU she had the opportunity to study with Clark Terry, Mulgrew Miller, Harold Mabern, Gary Smulyan, Rich Perry, Rich DeRosa, Steve LaSpina, Bill Goodwin, Bill Mobley, Kevin Norton, and David Demsey, among others. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies/Performance.
Roxy has extensive experience performing around the world in Germany, Paris, at the North Sea, Vienne, and Montreux Jazz Festivals in Europe, IAJE in Toronto, and the JVC – New York Jazz Festival. Roxy has also appeared on the Today Show Live, at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and at the world famous Blue Note Jazz Club. Her rich background has offered her the opportunity to perform alongside jazz legends and greats such as Clark Terry, Claudio Roditi, and Grassella Oliphant. She has also appeared with the Smoke Big Band, the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra, and opened for the Dave Leibman Big Band and Rufus Reid’s Quintet plus Four as part of the esteemed Jazz Room Series. Roxy is also a prolific composer, and was commissioned by the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company in 2009 to write a full score for a 35-minute dance piece, Tribe, which was commissioned by the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.
Roxy’s self-titled debut album released in October of this year, featuring eight original compositions on which she plays Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, as well as Flute. “My goal is to explore new musical genres, breaking boundaries and preconceptions of present day music. I want to make music you can feel in your bones, full of honesty, passion, joy, and awareness,” says Coss.
Currently, Roxy is playing with the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, which has taken her to Europe, and on the 10th Annual Jazz Party at Sea, a cruise through the East Caribbean. She also leads the Roxy Coss Quintet, based out of New York. She appeared twice in this year’s Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, WA; once as a featured guest with the Garfield High School Big Band at the Triple Door, and once with her own Quartet at Tula’s Jazz Club & Restaurant, which was recorded by Jim Wilke for his radio show, Jazz Northwest on KPLU, Seattle.