About the Artist

The Empress is an all-female New York City jazz saxophone ensemble founded by award-winning alto saxophonist Pureum Jin. Featuring Lauren Sevian (baritone), Erena Terakubo (alto), and Chelsea Baratz (tenor), with a top-tier NYC rhythm section, the group blends sharp ensemble writing with soulful, straight-ahead swing. Their debut album, Square One (Cellar Music Group)—recorded at Van Gelder Studio—reimagines standards and originals with urgency and elegance, earning strong press and JazzWeek chart love.