by Scott Yanow A stirring and adventurous pianist with a sound of her own, Michele Rosewoman came from a very musical northern California family. She started playing piano at age six, and as a teenager studied with pianist Ed Kelly. After working extensively locally, Rosewoman moved to New York in 1977. She went on to play and record with many advanced players, including Oliver Lake, Billy Bang, Greg Osby, and the members of M-Base, among many others. Most important have been her own projects. Well-trained in Cuban percussion and African music, Rosewoman has led the versatile big band New Yor-Uba (unfortunately unrecorded) on an occasional basis since the mid-'80s, as well as her quintet Quintessence. Michele Rosewoman led stimulating sessions for Soul Note, Enja, Evidence, and Blue Note. She developed into one of the unsung leaders of the jazz avant-garde of the 1990s while remaining connected to the tradition.