Pianist

Active since 2006, this all-star jazz collective with pianist Myra Melford, bassist Mark Dresser, and drummer Matt Wilson has toured all around the world and recorded two critically acclaimed releases, The Big Picture (2007) and The Guest House (2012). Myra Melford has distinguished herself through her unique ability to blend jazz with elements of blues, Indian classical music, and avant-garde improvisation. She has pursued a creative vision that is both wholly distinctive and all-embracing, where composition and improvisation interact seamlessly and ingeniously, one side strengthening the other. Divergent idioms and eras coalesce—from jazz, blues and global folk styles to various corners of the classical tradition. Extramusical influences—the poetry of Rumi or the spirituality of the Huichol Indians of Mexico—also figure in the mix. In the end, Melford’s efforts are probably best served by labels like “contemporary music” or “new music,” or other tags that signify artistic freedom and daring more than any boundaries of genre.

Trio M

The 222

Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective & Goldberg-Melford-Davis-Glenn Quartet with Special Guests–An evening of creative jazz by students in the Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective, featuring Ben Goldberg, Myra Melford, Ben Davis, and Jordan Glenn, as well as special guests Mark Dresser, Liberty Ellman, Mat Muntz and Matt Wilson.

EPSG:4326

Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective

University of California, Berkeley

An evening of real-time composition featuring UC Berkeley’s Nathan Corder (electronics), Matthew Monaco (piano), and Mat Muntz (bass). The concert will showcase the unusual trio instrumentation as well as an assortment of solo and duo structured improvisations.

Graduate Student Real-Time Compositions

This supergroup assembled by pianist and composer Myra Melford includes Mary Halvorson on guitar, Ingrid Laubrock on saxophone, Tomeka Reid on cello, and Lesley Mok on percussion. 

Fire and Water Quintet

Logan Center

An evening of creative jazz by students in the Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective (Myra Melford, director), the Marty Ehrlich/Myra Melford Duo and the Goldberg-Melford Quintet.

Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective & Goldberg-Melford Quintet with special guest Marty Ehrlich

Pianist Myra Melford and drummer Allison Miller draw on their shared passion for nature and the life-giving power of light in their Lux Quartet. Saxophonist Dayna Stephens and bassist Scott Colley amplify the two bandleader’s innovative compositions to craft an intense, glowing sonic experience. The combination of artists is, according to Melford, “like throwing a spark at tinder—everything immediately bursts into flames.”

Allison Miller and Myra Melford’s Lux Quartet

Kennedy Center

A double bill featuring an all-star UC Jazz Ensemble, directed by Ted Moore, and the Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective, directed by Myra Melford.

Noon Concert: Jazz X2

The Stone at The New School serves as an artist-centric home and community for experimental and avant-garde artists, where they can perform what they want without any interference. With concerts every Tuesday through Saturday evening, The Stone at The New School continues the tradition of the landmark non-profit performance space founded in 2005 by Artistic Director John Zorn, within a greatly improved space.

Pianist

Myra Melford

Events

Past events

Apr 19, 2025

Trio M · 222

Apr 18, 2025

Berkeley Nu Jazz Collective · UC Berkeley Department of Music

About

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