The Jazz Combos, conducted by Peter Sommer, are joined by the great pianist, composer, and bandleader, Myra Melford, an artist who has pursued a creative vision that is both wholly distinctive and all-embracing. Composition and improvisation interact seamlessly and ingeniously in her work, one side strengthening the other. Guided by that same compelling spirit, divergent idioms and eras coalesce—from jazz, blues, and global folk styles to various corners of the classical tradition and the avant-gard. “Myra Melford has been one of my musical heroes since I first heard her fantastic ensembles in college,” stated Sommer. “She is a one-of-a-kind composer and bandleader and her skills, including improvising, at the piano are compelling and unique. I’m really looking forward to having her here.”