Gwen Laster's New MUSE Trio

"The members of New MUSE Trio rocket us into the fourth dimension on this beautiful invitation to openness. These 21st century messengers of enlightenment, engagement and healing are firmly rooted in the wisdom of the ancients, but they also pose the fundamental questions we ask ourselves today. What a wonderful source of meditation and artful inspiration and celebration they are, in this world and beyond." - Grammy Awarding-winning producer Leo Sacks

Founded by Violinist/Composer Gwen Laster, New MUSE Trio's artistic expression spoke to the people as an improvising string ensemble offering 20th and 21st century new works and original compositions as a vehicle for social activism. As classical alternative trained players who are improvisors, we are drawn to through composed music that features improvisational dialogue, self expression and original works steeped in traditional jazz, modern jazz, and music from the African diaspora. While staying rooted in these traditions, we improvise to inside form, outside/free, through-composed and un-notated concepts. By setting these programming standards, we believe improvising to be the highest form of self expression and freedom. We conjure up this art form to engage our listeners in a personal reflection that speaks to the inclusion of multiculturalism as relevant to all conversations in, around and about music. The ensemble’s debut recording Blue Lotus included the commissioned work “Black Lives Matter Suite” which continues to draw great listeners and reviews. New MUSE is excited to perform music of their latest works from their upcoming album “Keepers of the Flame” supported by Chamber Music America to be released in Spring 2025.

https://gwenlastergameboard.bandcamp.com/album/blue-lotus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fDlEwXyMWU&t=5s

Gwen Laster is a nationally acclaimed musician who is a proud 2025 Guggenheim fellow and also the recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, MPower Sphinx, Jubilation Foundation, Chamber Music America, the Puffin Foundation, Arts Mid Hudson, Lila Wallace, and the Cognac Hennessy 1st place Jazz Search. She began her love for improvising and composing because of her parents' love of jazz, blues, soul and classical music played endlessly on the record player and her progressive jazz music educators from Detroit\'s public schools. Gwen Laster is many things: A virtuoso violinist with exquisite taste. An adventurous composer, arranger and orchestrator. A classically-trained artist with a deep appreciation for America's musical history, and a scholar of African- American musical heritage. A socially conscious activist and educator who understands the power of music to reach and touch everyday people. As the founder of Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble (CSIE), she has created programs which promote self expression through improvisation. Her sensitivity to global music informs her workshops and master classes across the U.S. A native of Detroit, she holds two degrees in music from the University of Michigan and has lived in New York for many years. Laster’s music is available at Bandcamp and other digital media sources. Her recordings as a leader are Sneak Preview, I Hear You Smiling, Gameboard, Blue Lotus and upcoming Keepers of the Flame (2025)

more info at: https://www.gwenlaster.net/

Melanie Dyer is a Jerome fellow who performs and composes in creative, improvised and through-composed music spheres. She trained with William Lincer (Principal Violist, New York Philharmonic), Lee Yeingst (Principal Violist, Colorado Symphony Orchestra), John Jake Kella (NY Metropolitan Opera) and Naomi Fellows (Colorado Symphony Orchestra); and studied viola performance at the LaMont School of Music/University of Denver.

Melanie founded WeFreeStrings, an improvising string/rhythm collective rooted in improvised music in 2011.From 2004 – 2013, under her Bb Universe banner and in collaboration with the multi-generational, multi-ethnic Scientific Soul Sessions collective, Melanie's Harlem home became the scene of underground public performances by WeFreeStrings and other large and small music ensembles.

She has performed with the Sun Ra Arkestra, Dead Lecturers, Heroes Are Gang Leaders, Baba Andrew Lamb, Gwen Laster's New MUSE 4tet, William Parker, Steve Swell's Watershed, Jason Kao Hwang's Myths of Origin, Janice Lowe/Tyehimbe Jess Millie & Christina project, Patricia Nicholson's Women w an Axe to Grind. She's played and/or recorded with Tomeka Reid Stringtet, Henry Grimes, Dave Burrell, Ramsey Ameen, Karen Borca, Tulivu Donna Cumberbatch, Nona Hendryx, Joe Bonner, Reggie Workman, Howard Johnson and many other notable musicians in Europe, South Africa and the U.S.

more info at: https://melanievioladyer.weebly.com/

Teddy Rankin-Parker is an American cellist specializing in improvisation and avant-garde music. Based in upstate New York, he performs extensively throughout the US and Europe, wearing the hats of both composer and performance artist, and appearing in a variety of contexts including chamber orchestras, free improvised settings, performance art, and electro-acoustic music. Teddy is the touring cellist for the bands Primus and Iron & Wine, and has performed, toured, and recorded with dozens of artists, including Glen Hansard, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Eighth Blackbird, Ensemble NJP, Chicago Sinfonietta, Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble and Gwen Laster's New MUSE 4tet.

more info at: https://www.teddyrp.com/