Author Archives: Mel Minter

Myra Melford’s Fire and Water Quintet: a Pre–Outpost Appearance Interview

Myra Melford. Photo by Don Dixon.

On Thursday, October 31, Myra Melford’s Fire and Water Quintet will make its debut performance at the Outpost. Comprising five stellar improvisers—Melford (piano and melodica), Ingrid Laubrock (saxophones), Mary Halvorson (guitar), Tomeka Reid (cello), and Leslie Mok (drums)—the group plays vivid, life-affirming compositions by Melford, a sensitive synesthete, inspired by the paintings of Cy Twombly, specifically his Gaeta Set (For the Love of Fire and Water). Musically Speaking had the opportunity to speak with Melford, one of the brightest luminaries on the jazz scene.

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Short Reviews of (Somewhat) New Releases

  • Janel Leppin. Photo by Shervin Lainez.
  • Rich Peare and Don Messina. Photo by Ellen Sherman.
  • Anat Cohen’s Quartetinho: Vitor Gonçalves, James Shipp, Cohen, Tal Mashiach. Photo by Shervin Lainez.
  • Good Trouble: Jeff Lederer, Tia Fuller, Matt Wilson, Dawn Clement, Ben Allison. Photo by John Abbott.
  • Jamie Baum. Photo by Erika Kapin.

Summertime presents a number of obstacles to listening, so I’m going to try to catch up on a few previous releases while also checking out some newer ones by posting some briefer reviews. This week, we feature five releases from five very different jazz neighborhoods: cellist Janel Leppin’s Ensemble Volcanic Ash; clarinetist Anat Cohen’s Quartetinho; guitarist and bassist, respectively, Rich Peare and Don Messina; drummer Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble quintet; and flautist Jamie Baum’s Septet +. Something for just about every jazz fan.

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