Carmen Quill (formerly Carmen Q. Rothwell) is a double bassist, composer, singer and interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She is recognized for her sound and versatility on the double bass, her captivating performances as a solo artist, and her intuitive sensitivity as an improviser. Her debut solo recording, Don’t Get Comfy / Nowhere (2021), “thrives on the meeting of reservation and vulnerability, and its songs feel as emotional and virtuosic as a power ballad yet are sparse and withholding as a Rembrandt” (Pitchfork). In addition to producing and performing her solo music she performs and releases music as part of the bands tilt, Scree, and a host of other projects and collaborations. Carmen is a 2025 Next Jazz Legacy Awardee (New Music USA). In September 2026, Carmen will release a live trio recording featuring Jacob Sacks and Billy Hart entitled “I’ll Be Thinking of You on Thursday” on the new Close Up record label. Her next song-based album entitled “Harmless” will be released with Ruination Record Co. on November 6, 2026. Carmen is a regular collaborator with/performs in the bands and projects: tilt(Kalia Vandever, Isabel Crespo Pardo), Scree (Ryan El-Solh, Jason Burger), Allan Mednard Trio (Santiago Leibson), and Asa Horvitz’s GHOST (Wayne Horvitz, Ariadne Randall). In 2025, she began performing with Billy Hart and Jacob Sacks in a trio featuring original compositions by all three members, with support from Next Jazz Legacy. Carmen has also performed with musicians including David Murray, Chris Cheek, Cuong Vu, Ted Poor, Anna RG, Joey Baron, Ben Monder, Andrew D’Angelo, and Dave Douglas. In 2024, tilt (Isa Crespo Pardo, Kalia Vandever, Carmen Quill) released their debut album, something we once knew, featuring compositions by each of the three members. They have performed across the US, including appearances at Big Ears Festival (2025), Bang on a Can’s LOUD Weekend (2024), and Westerlies Fest (2024).
