[RESIDENCY] The Tomeka Reid Quartet

About

Over the last decade Reid has emerged as one of the most original, versatile, and curious musicians in the Chicago’s bustling jazz and improvised music community. Her distinctive melodic sensibility, usually braided to a strong sense of groove, has been featured in many distinguished ensembles over the years. She’s been a key member of ensembles led by legendary reedists like Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell, as well as a younger generation of visionaries including flutist Nicole Mitchell, singer Dee Alexander, and drummer Mike Reed. She’s also a founding member of the adventurous string trio called Hear in Now, with violinist Mazz Swift and bassist Silvia Bolognesi.

Halvorson is one of the most recognizable guitarists of her generation, a musicians who’s won accolades from both side of the Atlantic, through her own bands and projects with Braxton, Stephan Crump, Ingrid Laubrock, Tom Rainey, and Ches Smith, among others. She also is a member of Fujiwara’s excellent quintet the Hook-Up, one of several dynamic ensembles led or co-led by the drummer, who’s worked frequently with cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum and reedist Matana Roberts. He’s also played in the Indian brass band Red Baraat as well as the Steve Lacy repertory group Ideal Bread.

Roebke is a bandleader in his own right, scoring deserved praise with the debut recording by his octet in 2014; he’s also served as the harmonic anchor for a veritable who’s who of Chicago bandleaders including Mike Reed, vibist Jason Adasiewicz, clarinetist James Falzone, and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, among numerous others.

Jason Roebke – bass
Tomas Fujiwara – drums
Mary Halvorson – guitar
Tomeka Reid – cello