Kris Davis is an acclaimed pianist and composer, bringing her trio to Arrow Street Arts on March 7th, presented by Vivo Performing Arts. She’s also released her “Solstalgia Suite” inspired in part by the wildfires in her native Calgary. She spoke with Al Davis and Va Lynda Robinson, hosts of Jazz on 89.7, ahead of the show.

Va Lynda Robinson: Kris, thank you so much for joining us this afternoon. I’m so excited to talk to you! I am fascinated that by the eighth grade, you knew you wanted to be a jazz musician. Tell me about that.

Kris Davis: Yeah, I guess it’s a strange path. I studied classical music from the ages of seven to twelve. And I loved it, but I also had a lot of stage fright and stress about practicing alone and feeling isolated. And so, when I went into middle school, I joined the jazz band. I got in there and played the first concert, and I thought, “This is what I want to do the rest of my life!” I love playing with other people and feeling free to make mistakes and that’s what jazz is about. And it’s funny, I just went to my son’s middle school jazz band concert last night, and thought, “Oh wow, this where it starts.”

Va Lynda Robinson: Chris, you grew up in Calgary, Alberta. What’s the jazz scene like in Canada?

Kris Davis: I think it is vibrant in Canada, though I’m not sure about Calgary anymore. When I was coming up, it was very popular. I moved to Toronto in 1997 and there was a great scene there. I was playing six nights a week for four years. It’s the only time I’ve ever played gigs every day, almost every day and could make a living just playing.

Al Davis: Tell us about your new release. I want to hear a little bit more about it.

Kris Davis: It’s called “The Solastalgia Suite.” “Solastalgia” is a word that this philosopher Glenn Albrecht created. He defines it as “experiencing a form of homesickness while we are still at home. Our environment is transforming around us. And we grieve for the landscapes and ecologies we knew.” This feeling came to mind when I was writing the music. I was listening to an episode of “The Daily” by the New York Times and they were interviewing these scientists about the coral reefs in Florida, and they basically said, “We tried to save the coral reef, but they’re dying and they’re going to die.” So I thought I’d dedicate the piece to these scientists and this experience of grieving an ecology. I’m certainly experiencing it with my home in Calgary. When I go home now, there’s just smoke filling the air from the forest fires. It’s like an alien world.

Va Lynda Robinson: Kris, when we see you at Arrow Street Arts on March 7th, will you have your trio with you? I thought they did a phenomenal job on your NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

Kris Davis: That Tiny Desk was super nerve wracking!

Al Davis: Really? Why’s that?

Kris Davis: Because I realized that like, every person I know is gonna see this and you can’t redo it. It’s just one shot.

But yeah, I’ll be playing with my trio with Jonathan Blake and Robert Hurst [on March 7th]. We put a record out called “Run the Gauntlet” a couple years ago and we’ve been touring extensively these last few years. It’s just been really a great time playing with these guys. They groove so hard! I don’t play in Boston very often, even though I live here! So I’m always happy to have opportunities to perform and see the community come out.

Kris Davis’ latest release is “The Solstalgia Suite.” She performs at Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge on March 7th.