Chelsea Carmichael

Chelsea Carmichael is a Manchester-born saxophonist, arranger, and composer based in South East London’s Lewisham district. An integral part of the U.K.’s burgeoning modern jazz scene, she is a member of Theon Cross’, Courtney Pine’s, and Joe Armon-Jones’ touring bands. She first learned to play at Culcheth High School, where she was a member of the school’s swing band.
She orignally asked her dad for a violin; he bought her a piano instead. As she learned about music, she began drifitng towards jazz and switched to tenor saxophone although she still composes on piano.
Carmichael attended and graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and served as musical director of the NYJO Jazz Messengers. In 2018 she cut a pair of singles with Lucy Lu and Puma Blue, and in 2019 joined Cassie Kinoshi’s ten-piece SEED Ensemble and played on Driftglass. She has also performed with Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. She playe donthe sessions for Moses Boyd’s Dark Matter and Emma-Jean Thackray’s Yellow as well.
Carmichael also leads the four piece Chelsea Carmichael Ensemble and directs an unnamed project dedicated to performances of John Coltrane’s classic album Giant Steps. Saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings saw her quartet perform as an opening act one evening and was so impressed he inked her to a deal with his fledgling Native Rebel Recordings label and produced her debut album, The River Doesn't Like Strangers,which was released in October 2021. ~ Thom Jurek