New Aje is a trio consisting of Ava Lim on the Alto Saxophone, Jai Lasker on the Guitar, and EJ Brannan on the Drums. All three members are alumni of music programs within the greater Seattle area and are upcoming sophomores in the University of Washington improvised music program. In spite of the pandemic, New Aje was able to play together under the instruction of Cuong Vu – though they played entirely through virtual platforms. The members of New Aje honed their musical skills through the exploration of free music; though they were physically separated, they were able to learn invaluable lessons about listening, musical clarity, and communal improvisation as if they were together. With the widespread availability of vaccinations, the group had the opportunity to play in person and apply the skills they learned over the past year to both free improvised music and the standard repertoire of improvisatory Black American music. While the group has had relatively few opportunities to perform due to COVID-19, New Aje is looking forward to expanding the possibilities of their collective voice and finding platforms to display their growth.