Tomeka Reid finds authority in flexibility on the cello, taking full advantage of an instrument that can be earthy or ethereal, growly or sweetly serene. Her irresistible new album — dance! skip! hop! — finds her in each of these modes and more, at the helm of her long-running quartet. And during a recent visit to our studio, she talked about how it came out of an impulse to dance. In a far-ranging conversation with Nate Chinen, Reid also reflects on her early cello inspirations, the impact of AACM mentors like Anthony Braxton, and her work as an educator and an advocate.
dance! skip! hop!, with Tomkea Ried