Jazz Articles about Mary Halvorson

Mary Halvorson Trio: Dragon's Head

by Nic Jones
October 22, 2008

Dragon's Head is guitarist Halvorson's debut as a leader, and there's every reason to hope it'll be the first of many. In the past, she's worked in duos with both violist Jessica Pavone and drummer Kevin Shea, as well as in Anthony Braxton's ensemble. It's clear that she's bringing that wealth of experience to bear on this effort too. The program consists entirely of original compositions, and it's abundantly obvious that they were written with this particular trio in mind. ...

Mary Halvorson Trio: Dragon's Head

by Troy Collins
October 21, 2008

A singular talent, Brooklyn-based guitarist Mary Halvorson has come into her own as a composer and improviser with her trio debut, Dragon's Head. The Wesleyan-trained guitarist's recent tours and collaborations with her former instructor, composer/multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton, along with cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum have helped set the stage for this stunning recording.

Although Halvorson has co-led a number of similarly intimate ensembles in the recent past--including People, her duo with drummer Kevin Shea, and an avant-folk pairing with ...

Mary Halvorson - Jessica Pavone: On and Off

by AAJ Italy Staff
October 29, 2007

L'aspettavo al varco questa seconda prova della coppia Halvorson-Pavone. Dopo un album d'esordio passato quasi inosservato - Prairies, uscito per la spagnola Lucky Kitchen nel 2005 -, cinque anni di attività per lo più sui palchi newyorchesi e una serie di fruttuose collaborazioni (la più recente nel sestetto del trombettista Taylor Ho Bynum; la più singolare quella della Halvorson nei People, a fianco dell'ex Storm & Stress Kevin Shea), alle due “figliocce” dell'affettuoso e genialoide Braxton mancava solo la consacrazione ...

Mary Halvorson / Jessica Pavone: Prairies

by Celeste Sunderland
July 24, 2006

Guitarist Mary Halvorson and violist Jessica Pavone bring barely audible remnants from the past to their new duo album, but also rustle with an air that is voraciously of the present. An ability to dream up fresh new palettes of sound for their instruments enables them to create strange but wonderful landscapes. Complementary rhythms form thick textures, or long notes combine in sparse melodies to form atmospheric settings throughout the album's thirteen tracks. Each tune exists as ...