Myra Melford’s Fire and Water

Hailed by The New Yorker as “a stalwart of the new-jazz movement,” the gifted pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator Myra Melford comes to Roulette with her dynamic all-star Fire and Water Quintet to present a brand new book of music. The quintet brings together Melford (composer/piano) with Ingrid Laubrock (tenor and soprano saxophones), Mary Halvorson (electric guitar), Tomeka Reid (cello), and Lesley Mok (drums).

Their critically acclaimed debut, For the Love of Fire and Water, inspired by a set of drawings by the visual artist Cy Twombly, was released in April 2022 on the RogueArt label. DownBeat praised the album, noting that “the resulting music is expansive, containing both artfully arranged ensemble passages and freeform encounters between a couple players within an album-length suite.” A second album, Hear the Light Singing, adding “insertions” to the original suite and written with each player’s unique musical personality in mind, was released in October 2023 to immense critical acclaim. JazzTrail highlighted the album’s “strong and sinuous lead melody,” emphasizing the group’s open-mindedness and effusive solos. Over the past three years, the Fire & Water Quintet has toured from Pori to San Sebastián to Austin to Seattle, captivating audiences with innovative compositions and exceptional musicianship.

On June 25, Melford will premiere a brand-new book of music for a forthcoming album on RogueArt. This performance will offer audiences an exclusive first listen to the group’s next evolution, showcasing their ever-expanding sonic explorations and deep improvisational synergy.