Camila Nebbia - a reflection distorts over water (2025) [Hi-Res]

Whether Camila Nebbia is freely improvising or playing originals that toggle between poetic rumination and fiery blowing, she is all in. With "a reflection distorts over water" she’s formed one of the most febrile, elastic ensembles in a very prolific career, uniting with two of the strongest improvisers in the US: veteran pianist Marilyn Crispell and rising percussionist Lesley Mok. The new trio set up at Nevessa Studio without any prior rehearsal. They played Mok’s composition “Longing” while a few other pieces drew inspiration from some of the saxophonist’s open scores, but otherwise everything they performed was fully improvised. The results cover a broad terrain, but binding everything is a stunning presence, a connection to the sounds and sensibilities that allows the trio to function both a single organism, wriggling, stomping, and crying as one, while also providing the space and trust for single voices to emerge from the mutual action. It can also go the other way, too, and in a nonchalantly effective gesture, in “A Room Is Being Erased ” Nebbia cedes the foreground to Crispell, but rather than interrupting her own flow with silence or sudden shift in volume, she momentarily dampens her attack by placing the bell of her horn against her leg while carrying on at full throttle. It creates a striking sonic effect but it also displays her quickness and sensitivity. Peter Margasak

Camila Nebbia - Tenor Saxophone
Marilyn Crispell - Piano
Lesley Mok - Drums