Jazz Articles about Mary Halvorson

Mary Halvorson: Saturn Sings

by Chris May
September 28, 2010

The arrival of a new star in the jazz guitar cosmos, and the chance it offers to wrest a little more of the instrument back from the smooth and fusion apes, is always something to celebrate. The emergence of Brooklyn-based Mary Halvorson, who debuted as a bandleader in 2008 with Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records), has been accompanied by even more bunting than usual. “The most impressive guitarist of her generation" was an early verdict in All About Jazz. “Probably ...

Mary Halvorson - Reuben Radding - Nate Wooley: Crackleknob

by AAJ Italy Staff
June 23, 2009

C'è qualcosa di profondamente “politico" nella musica del trio Crackleknob, composto equilateralmente dalla chitarra della sempre più autorevole Mary Halvorson, dal contrabbasso di Reuben Radding e dalla tromba mutante di Nate Wooley. Se uso questo termine, ben conscio tra l'altro di venire probabilmente frainteso, lo faccio non perché nelle intenzioni dei tre musicisti ci sia un qualsivoglia evidente messaggio in tale direzione, ma perché la scelta di un linguaggio comune di questo tipo spinge l'ascoltatore a prendere una posizione, a ...

Mary Halvorson, Reuben Radding & Nate Wooley: Crackleknob

by Troy Collins
May 8, 2009

A compelling example of evenhanded group improvisation, the self-titled debut of the collective trio Crackleknob demonstrates the sort of congenial rapport fueled by longstanding friendships. Up and coming improvisers on the nascent Brooklyn scene, guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Reuben Radding and trumpeter Nate Wooley first played as a trio four years ago. Since then, they have collaborated in various situations ranging from impromptu line-ups to regular touring ensembles.

A fearless improviser, Radding has served as sideman to free ...

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: Thin Air

by Farrell Lowe
March 27, 2009

The music of guitarist Mary Halvorson and violist Jessica Pavone is immediately galvanizing but comfortable, unpredictable yet composed, powerful yet subtle, vulnerable and courageous. In the rarified air of duet recordings where there are few places to hide, the music's context becomes a powerful resonator for artistic values. Thin Air is the third release by the duo, and is a rich document of the evolutionary progress their music has reached since the release of their first effort, Prairies (Lucky Kitchen, ...

Mary Halvorson Trio: Dragon's Head

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 23, 2009

Con quel viso da liceale un po' secchioncella, ma forse pronta a accoltellarti la mano al quaderno se non le passi il compito, Mary Halvorson è un personaggio davvero unico del panorama avant-jazz odierno: a vederla tutta composta dietro la chitarra non ti aspetteresti delle strappate di suono così taglienti, eppure c'è nella sua musica qualcosa di sghembo e dolcissimo che non può che affascinare. Fattasi notare negli ultimi anni in diverse formazioni di Anthony Braxton [una su tutte il ...

Mary Halvorson Trio: Dragon's Head

by Kurt Gottschalk
November 10, 2008

Given her diverse work with Anthony Braxton, Trevor Dunn and Mike Pride, her duos with Jessica Pavone and Kevin Shea and a number of other projects, guitarist Mary Halvorson might have gone any number of directions with her debut as a bandleader. Safe bet it would include some precise, proficient playing, probably some jagged edges and maybe some noise. But in the last few years Halvorson has shown there to be a number of tricks up her sleeve.

Mary Halvorson: Dragon's Head

by John Sharpe
November 1, 2008

One of guitarist Mary Halvorson's most high profile gig was with Anthony Braxton, featuring in his Twelvetet and Sextet, and most prominently in his Diamond Curtain Wall Trio. In these diverse settings she allied top quality musicianship with energetic unpredictability, a combination equally to the fore in her trio debut Dragon's Head, though here framed within the context of her own idiosyncratic compositions.

Halvorson wrote all of these songs with seasoned bassist John Hebert and drummer Ches Smith's playing in ...