Aretha Tillotson is a Canadian bassist, band leader and composer.As a jazz musician, Aretha has played across North America with Kris Davis, Francesca Remigi, Allan Chase, Josh Rosen, and Jeff Antoniuk. In 2023, she performed as a member of Ingrid and Christine Jensen’s quintet, and recorded her first album in March for a release in October. As a session musician, Aretha and has toured with Universal artist Mick Flannery, she has worked as touring/resident bassist on the Broadway rendition of SIX. She will continue her work with SIX as the bassist for Mirvish Theatre’s residency in Toronto. 

Aretha was honoured to receive a presidential scholarship in 2020 to attend Berklee's Global Jazz Masters program, receiving an individual mentorship with John Patitucci as well as studying with Linda May Han Oh, Joe Lovano, and Danilo Perez., she received her Masters of Music in 2022 Summa Cum Laude in jazz performance. 

Aretha resides as faculty as a bass/masterclass professor at MacEwan University, splitting her time between Edmonton, Toronto, and Boston.