​Born, raised, and steeped in the arts of New York City, Emma Alabaster began her formal study of upright bass and voice at Fiorello H. Laguardia High School for the Arts. She went on to receive her B.A. in Music from Bard College, where she studied jazz composition and performance under Erica Lindsay, John Esposito, Ira Coleman and Kenny Davis.Upon graduation, Emma returned to Brooklyn to work as a bassist, composer, singer and educator.

 

In 2009, her CD, In the Third Generation the Daughters are Free, was released on the independent label Proliferate Music. In addition to her trio Captain for Dark Mornings, Emma gigs regularly with various projects throughout NYC and has toured nationally.

 

Collaborations include: John Esposito, tamar-kali, Cornelius Eady, Duane Eubanks, Roy Nathanson, Adam Rudolph's Go: Organic Orchestra. Venues include: Harlem Stage, Ibeam, The Stone, The Filmore Irving Plaza, Lincoln Center. Though Emma’s creative focus is musical, she is also a published poet, a teaching artist in NYC’s public, charter and private schools and works in Women’s Health. Emma is also the Musical Director for Rough Magic.