Artifacts Trio

The Artifacts Trio, composed of Chicago jazz stalwarts Mike Reed, Nicole Mitchell, and Tomeka Reid, stands out for its ability to blend traditional sounds with modern aesthetics and innovation.

Individually, the musicians are critically acclaimed performers and educators. Nicole Mitchell was named “Top Flutist of the Year” by DownBeat magazine and the Jazz Journalists Association (2010-2022) and was the first woman president of Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), which has been at the forefront of celebrating African-American music and culture since its inception in 1965.

Tomeka Reid has been described as a “New Jazz Power Source” by the New York Times and was the recent recipient of a grant from the MacArthur Foundation.

Mile Reed, a leading force within Chicago’s diverse artistic community, leads several bands, is the programming chair of the Chicago Jazz Festival, and is the owner and director of the acclaimed performing arts venue Constellation.

As prominent performers and educators in the third generation of the AACM, Artifacts Trio will showcase original compositions alongside classic AACM pieces, with a focus on groove and free improvisation.