Confirming their place in Chicago's improv legacy, the second album from the Artifacts Trio of Nicole Mitchell on flute & electronics, Tomeka Reid on cello and Mike Reed on drums & percussion expand the AACM canon with compositions from each member, plus several insightful and lively collective improvisations and one piece each from Roscoe Mitchell and Muhal Richard Abrams.

Transforming a sense of isolation and separation into exuberant and pointed expression, drummer Mike Reed brings together this hybrid sextet of Chicago players, including cornetist Ben LaMar Gay, poet and spoken word artist Marvin Tate (D-Settlement), and members of Bitchin Bajas (Rob Frye, Cooper Crain, and Dan Quinlivan), for 9 heartfelt, intensely passionate pieces.