Shards and Constellations presents duets with two remarkable musicians tomeka reid and alexander hawkins. Both have become creative epicenters in the jazz and improvisation scene in recent years with their original, versatile and innovative art. reid has recorded extensively with many legendary artists from the aaCm such asAnthony Braxton and roscoe mitchell as well as the next generation of aaCm artists including nicole mitchell, dee alexander and mike reed.Hawkins is a composer and pianist from the london jazz scene and is regarded in the UK as one of the most innovative musicians of the younger generation with a surprising radius of action. hiswork attempts to reconcile both his love of free improvisation and his infatuation with composition and structure. lyrical to the pointillistic, from the angular to the serene. this adventurous music deserves to be heard," writes anthony davis in the liner notes.