F2K Ep. 23: Cellist Tomeka Reid

Fun 2 Know Podcast

Episode 23: Cellist Tomeka Reid We caught our guest today composer and cellist Tomeka Reid in the midst of a career moment. She arrived in New York City from Chicago on January 1st 2016 to join her quartet for their NYC debut, just two days after Ben Ratliff described Reid in the NYTimes as “A new jazz power source.” Over the next two weeks she played with a dizzying number of the East Coast's established and up-and-coming talent in gigs and jam sessions in DC, Philadelphia and Connecticut. In the midst of all this activity we convinced Ms. Reid take the train down from New York to join us in the studios at WPRB, where I host a weekly jazz show. Ms. Reid moved from the D.C. area to Chicago in 2000 as has recorded with flutist (and former F2K guest) Nicole Mitchell, drummer Mike Reid, vocalist Dee Alexander and the elder statesmen Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell among others. Ms. Reid also co-leads the internationally recognized string trio, Hear in Now who have performed in Poland, Paris, Rome, Venice, Milan, Italy and Switzerland. Over the course of the conversation we talk about the three albums she had released in 2016, Her love of Chicago, her experiences at part of the legendary AACM collective of musical improvisers, teaching and touring, the importance of women mentors, the differences between the classical and jazz worlds and more. You'll also hear me at peak enthusiasm for the chance to speak with a musician whose work I was right in the midst of a music lover's habit of compulsive playing and replaying, they're such fresh and engaging releases that reward one's savoring.