Cellist Joan Jeanrenaud is one of the key figures in the contemporary classical movement, and this new CD—seven years in the making—reveals a thoughtful artist who, at this juncture, has a lot to say and possesses the gifts to say it in a most engaging manner. As the original cellist of the Kronos Quartet, Jeanrenaud contributed to 30 recordings and made 2,000 concert performances with the seminal chamber ensemble, helping set the standard for the genre. Since leaving the group in 1999, her scant recorded output has been limited to a single disc of (mostly) improvisations, 2002’s Metamorphosis, and a solo-cello piece that she contributed to the 2005 Oil on Ice soundtrack.

On her latest solo release, Strange Toys, Jeanrenaud has emerged as a talented composer as well as a gifted instrumentalist. A couple of these minimalist compositions, such as the finicky “Rainkids,” feel more like experimental sketches than songs. And others, like “Blue Kite,” have a sweeping cinematic quality. But several of the 14 tracks—notably “Axis,” “Transition,” “Livre” and “Waiting”—are richly textured works marked by complex harmonies, polyrhythms, and hauntingly beautiful melodies. The arrangements are sparse, with a handful of musicians making guest appearances. But overall there is a deeply personal, sometimes melancholy, feeling to these recordings that leads you suspect they will stand the test of time.