Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles

5

Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles

By

Sign in to view read count
Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles
Crop Circles is the inevitable meeting of two remarkable female artists. Both pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and guitarist Mary Halvorson have distinguished careers. Courvoisier in her quartet, her large ensemble, and Mephista (a trio with Ikue Mori and Susie Ibarra). Halvorson leads a trio, quintet, septet, octet and is a member multiple bands including Thumbscrew, Anthony Braxton's ensembles and those of Taylor Ho Bynum. Both women often perform and record solo and in duo, Courvoisier with Mark Feldman and Evan Parker and Halvorson with Stephan Crump, Jessica Pavone, and Weasel Walter.

Both artists wrote music for this session. What's significant here is that the music, designed for this duo, while complicated, and at times knotty, is made into child's play. That is, if the child was a member of Mensa International. "La Cigale" opens the disc. Playing in unison, the musicians quickly split a the fork in the road. Courvoisier applies some prepared piano sounds to Halvorson's guitar pedal contortions. Both musicians reminding us their instruments are first and foremost, machines. They are also joyful delivery systems for things of beauty. "Aftershock" caters to a most delicate chamber, dreamlike sound, and "Double Vision" plies a déjà vu-like telling and retelling of notes, the kind that easily become a song stuck in your brain. The taut, almost claustrophobic, space conjured on "Eclats for Ornette" and "Water Scissors," are a complex math problem the pair must work out. Like all the pieces on this disc, they come through with flying colors, earning an A+.

Track Listing

La Cigale; Aftershock; Eclats for Ornette; Absent Across Skies; Downward Dog; Your Way; Water Scissors; Woman in the Dunes; Double Vision; Bitter Apple.

Personnel

Sylvie Courvoisier: piano; Mary Halvorson: guitar.

Album information

Title: Crop Circles | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Relative Pitch Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.