Rachel Eckroth & John Hadfield "Speaking in Tongues"

A love of Improvisation is the binding element and motivation behind this collaborative project of Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield. This democratic unit defies tradition and truly embraces adventure, creativity and chaos while being perfectly synchronized. In addition to their own compositions, they explore and create spontaneously for the audience who discover the work simultaneously with the artists who bring it to life.

Eckroth and Hadfield have known each other since university; they reconnected at a recording session in Europe in 2022, noticed they “musically link up really well,” as Eckroth recalls, and wanted to create art together. “Pianists comp, and drummers are also usually comping on the snare. When I connect with a drummer musically (for me this is kind of specific to drummers), we catch these same rhythms, because we have a similar language. It just feels good.“ Sharonne Cohen, October 2024

Recent audiences have been excited and inspired by the duo’s ability to make each song its own adventure, leaving no room for forgettable pieces. The two have individually had exceptional careers as both leaders and sidemen. With a resume of work with Yo-Yo Ma to Rufus Wainwright to Carnegie Hall to Glastonbury Festival, television appearances and Grammy wins and nominations, it’s no secret that Eckroth and Hadfield can thrive in any setting they are presented with. It is the natural progression of things that they are welcomed as a formidable force on the world stage.
2025 will be their breakout year, with multiple tours scheduled - both USA and Europe, and a full-length album on Adhyâropa Records in February titled, Speaking In Tongues.