Tomeka Reid, Isidora Edwards, Elisabeth Coudoux: Reid​/​Edwards​/​Coudoux

Leave it to Relative Pitch Records' Kevin Riley's ingenuity to release a unique, live session which brought together three of the world's preeminent cellists-improvisers. The result is the provocative, captivating and simply titled Reid/Edwards/Coudoux. On it, American Tomeka Reid joins forces with Chilean Isidora Edwards, and German Elisabeth Coudoux for four multilayered conversations.

"Could You Imagine" opens with woody groans and resonant percussion which set an expectant mood. The overlapping angular phrases paint a dissonant and moving musical tableaux enveloped in a contemplative ambience. The melodic bowed lines, punctuated by sparse pizzicato notes, create a cinematic piece which crackles with dynamism and just the right amount of angst to maintain intellectual engagement.

In contrast to the moody quietude of "Could You Imagine," "Lying Layers" is crisp and crystalline with a mordant whimsy. The swift sonic fragments and the punch-like screech of the strings coalesce into a riotous repartee of agile and fiery virtuosity. This exploration of sound pushes the boundaries of the cello into stimulating atonality. Here, as elsewhere, the remarkable camaraderie within the trio is fully demonstrated as it forms a single harmonious unit, one that, nevertheless, highlights the individuality of each member.

The musicians are all masters of the western classical idiom and thrive in interdisciplinary settings. Perhaps this is best heard on "Sound Behind the Voice." The ebb and flow of the refrains is like an other-worldly dance. Haunting and lyrical, the repeating patterns often hint at baroque influences while others are unmistakably modern. As the tune progresses, it gains momentum and poetic fervor.

The concluding "Shot Spaces" maintains the dramatic atmosphere as well as the innovative spirit. The rounded and fleeting bow swipes and the strings' dark reverberations are intermixed with silent pauses to poignant effect. The fast and lithe performance comes to a naturally serene end, one which leaves behind an expectant aura.

Reid/Edwards/Coudoux provides a demanding and rewarding listening experience. It is an album which is simultaneously cerebral and packs a visceral punch. Never self indulgent, it is a work of free expression and sublime synergy which will echo long after it has stopped playing.