Matana Roberts, "a fearless and charismatic Chicago-born saxophonist who can reconcile all sorts of saxophone languages…."
Ben Ratliff, NY Times

Matana is a dynamic saxophonist, composer and improviser, who tries to expose in her music the mystical roots and spiritual traditions of African American creative expression.

A Chicago Native, she was fortunate enough to be surrounded by elder musicians who showed her by distinct example the importance of listening to one’s personal creative voice while at the same time using the profound and many layered traditions of jazz and improvised music to act only as her creative guide, not as her creative definer. By using their mentorship, she has been able to craft a voice and creative focus that truly speaks to her own true artistic individuality. She feels strongly that her music should not only reflect the many colors and moods of universal human emotions, but that is should also testify, critique, document and respond to the many socio-economic, historical, and cultural inequalities that exist not only in her country, but all over the world.

Matana has played alongside such musical and artistic luminaries as Roscoe Mitchell, Oliver Lake, David Boykins, Eugene Chadboume, Henry Grimes, Butch Morris, George Lewis, Fred Anderson, Savion Glover, reg e gaines and many more. She has recorded with her collaborative jazz trio Sticks and Stones….and has even played on the Godspeed You Black Emperor! 2002 release Yanqui U.X.O

Matana is now based in NYC and is currently devoting most of her time to her in progress familial narrative – COIN, COIN. Other projects include an ensemble called Ode to Ziggy Stardust, which deconstructs Bowies Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, one of Matana’s all time favourite records.