Myra Melford’s Fire & Water Quintet

Acclaimed pianist and composer Myra Melford brings together a powerhouse quintet of leading improvisers for a project that redefines the idea of a jazz “supergroup,” uniting artists she had previously collaborated with individually but never as an ensemble. Conceived during a 2019 residency at New York’s The Stone, the group’s chemistry was immediately evident, leading to the recording For the Love of Fire and Water, a suite inspired by the drawings of Cy Twombly and shaped by composed material, guided interaction, and collective improvisation. Recorded at Firehouse 12 Studios, the music balances visceral energy with spacious restraint, echoing Twombly’s elemental themes and Melford’s own emphasis on gesture, timbre, and impulse. Grounded by Melford’s commanding piano, the ensemble weaves cello, guitar, and percussion into a richly textured, ever-evolving work that highlights each musician’s voice while serving a unified, exploratory whole.