Myra Melford’s The Whole Tree Gone (Firehouse 12 Records) is featured in The HOT Box section of DownBeat’s March issue.

In the main four-star review, John Corbett writes, “On The Whole Tree Gone, which follows 2006’s The Image Of Your Body (Cryptogramphone) as the sophomore release by her working ensemble Be Bread, Melford’s music is clearly and expansively unfolded. The group couldn’t be more ideally suited to the task. [Clarinetist Ben] Goldberg likes the natural un-stressed sound of his instrument, which makes him a nice foil for trumpeter Cuong Vu, who sometimes evokes harsh and abrasive textures, and guitarist Brandon Ross, who doesn’t shy away from the dry and the spiky. Followers of Ross and bassist Stomu Takeishi might be surprised to hear them both playing in an all-acoustic chamber jazz setting, but they sound perfectly at home, ever-sensitive drummer Matt Wilson adapting to the low-amp environs. Melford’s strength at the keyboard is clear throughout.”

Paul de Barros adds, “There’s lots of air in this music‚ between the instruments, between the phrases, and in the sound of the clarinet and the plinkty acoustic guitar. And you can’t beat Cuong Vu’s trumpet smears, Ben Goldberg’s crystalline clarinet or Melford’s rambunctious free rumbles.”