Much has happened to Tomeka Reid, who was already one of jazz's definitive figures in the 21st century, in the 4½ years since her last album by this all-star quintet. Most notably, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2022, one of the most prestigious awards in the creative arts field in the USA. The same year, she also won the DownBeat Critics Poll for miscellaneous instrument [despite many deserving talents emerging on the instrument, the jazz polls don't have cello as a category for recognition]. She has also performed and recorded with a large number of musicians including The Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Fire and Water Quintet and Tomas Fujiwara's 7 Poets Trio. Building on the deeply intuitive language explored by the quartet on her acclaimed Cuneiform debut, 2019's Old New, Reid set out to explore extended themes with bassist Jason Roebke, drummer Tomas Fujiwara and guitarist Mary Halvorson. Over the course of three pieces that flow together much like a set the group plays in concert, the album captures the state-of-the-art ensemble moving with unhurried grace, constantly calibrating the evolving conversation. Part of what's new for Reid is her expanded sonic palette, which can make it difficult to tell where her bow work and Halvorson's electronics diverge. "As a string player, I used to be anti-electronics," she says. "I love the acoustic cello sound. But playing with Mary, I really love how it's part of her voice, not something extra. So, previously, I strived to make electronic sounds acoustically using different preparations as that was something I was earnestly exploring and now I feel ok incorporating electronics."
