Roxy Coss
Musician, Composer, Bandleader, Educator and Activist Roxy Coss has become one of the most unique and innovative Saxophonists on the scene. Winner of a 2016 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, the Downbeat Critics’ Poll listed her as a "Rising Star" on Soprano Saxophone the past four years in a row, and a Downbeat Magazine review called her "An exceptional young talent”. Originally from Seattle, and based in New York for the past ten years, Roxy has headlined major Jazz Festivals and Venues around the world, including the Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne Big Band Festival, Ballard Jazz Festival, The Jazz Standard, Jazz Showcase, and Side Door Cafe. Roxy was also featured on Harry.
In March 2018, Coss will release her fourth album as a leader, The Future Is Female (Posi-Tone), the follow-up to Chasing the Unicorn (Posi-Tone). Chasing the Unicorn has been met with critical acclaim, including making the “Best of 2017” lists in Downbeat , Somethin’ Else Reviews , and Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes. The Roxy Coss Quintet, was started in 2008, and has held residencies at New York City clubs including SMOKE Jazz Club and Club Bonafide.
Coss has performed as a side musician with Jazz greats including Clark Terry, Louis Hayes, Rufus Reid, Billy Kaye and Claudio Roditi. She was a member of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s group from 2012 through 2014, and toured with the MACKTET, led by Pelt and drummer Willie Jones III. She has been a member of The Diva Jazz Orchestra since 2009, and was a featured member in the Off-Broadway hit, Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life. She is also a member of New Faces, an all-star collective ensemble featuring bandleaders from the Posi-Tone label, produced by Marc Free, which released their first album entitled Straight Forward in January 2018.
Roxy graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2008 from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Performance. In 2011, she was chosen to participate in both the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Residency Workshop at the Kennedy Center, and the acclaimed Steans Institute Jazz Program at the Ravinia Festival.
Roxy is also the Founder and Director of Women In Jazz Organization, a collective of professional jazz musicians who identify as women, gender neutral or non-binary. WIJO intends to help level the playing field, so that women and non-binary people have equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to the jazz community, leading to an improved and more rich, diverse, and successful art form.
Musician, Composer, Bandleader, Educator and Activist Roxy Coss has become one of the most unique and innovative Saxophonists on the scene. Winner of a 2016 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, the Downbeat Critics’ Poll listed her as a "Rising Star" on Soprano Saxophone the past four years in a row, and a Downbeat Magazine review called her "An exceptional young talent”. Originally from Seattle, and based in New York for the past ten years, Roxy has headlined major Jazz Festivals and Venues around the world, including the Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne Big Band Festival, Ballard Jazz Festival, The Jazz Standard, Jazz Showcase, and Side Door Cafe. Roxy was also featured on Harry.
In March 2018, Coss will release her fourth album as a leader, The Future Is Female (Posi-Tone), the follow-up to Chasing the Unicorn (Posi-Tone). Chasing the Unicorn has been met with critical acclaim, including making the “Best of 2017” lists in Downbeat , Somethin’ Else Reviews , and Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes. The Roxy Coss Quintet, was started in 2008, and has held residencies at New York City clubs including SMOKE Jazz Club and Club Bonafide.
Coss has performed as a side musician with Jazz greats including Clark Terry, Louis Hayes, Rufus Reid, Billy Kaye and Claudio Roditi. She was a member of trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s group from 2012 through 2014, and toured with the MACKTET, led by Pelt and drummer Willie Jones III. She has been a member of The Diva Jazz Orchestra since 2009, and was a featured member in the Off-Broadway hit, Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life. She is also a member of New Faces, an all-star collective ensemble featuring bandleaders from the Posi-Tone label, produced by Marc Free, which released their first album entitled Straight Forward in January 2018.
Roxy graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2008 from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies/Performance. In 2011, she was chosen to participate in both the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Residency Workshop at the Kennedy Center, and the acclaimed Steans Institute Jazz Program at the Ravinia Festival.
Roxy is also the Founder and Director of Women In Jazz Organization, a collective of professional jazz musicians who identify as women, gender neutral or non-binary. WIJO intends to help level the playing field, so that women and non-binary people have equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to the jazz community, leading to an improved and more rich, diverse, and successful art form.