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Mary Halvorson's Code Girl: Artlessly Falling
by Jerome Wilson
Guitarist Mary Halvorson has displayed her playing and composing talents in a number of settings, but this second release by her song-based band, Code Girl, is one of the most focused and intense things she has ever done. Halvorson and her quintet constructed music around eight of her own poems, each written in a specific poetic form. The results are fluid and improvisational art songs, in the manner of complex but catchy British art rock groups of the ...
read moreNew Jazz From Around The World
by Bob Osborne
In this episode of World of Jazz, we offer a truly trans-global selection of music with exciting new releases from Italian, German, American, Swedish, Japanese, Argentinian, and Australian artists. There are selections from Marco Rottoli, Marcus Klossek, Mary Halvorson, Bjorn Ingelstam, Emi Makabe, Javier Subatin, and Cyclone Trio. Playlist Marco Rottoli Trio “Acacia" from New Years Eve (AMP Music and Records) 00:00 Marcus Klossek Electric Trio “Like 4 Minutes Ago" from Time Was Now (DoubleMoon/Challenge Records) 07:03 Mary ...
read moreMary Halvorson: Artlessly Falling
by John Sharpe
Not content with having scaled the heights of the guitar pantheon, with the second release from Code Girl, Mary Halvorson also cements her place in a unique genre of her own design. As befits someone who has taken to heart Anthony Braxton's dictum to find her own musical voice, she presents something which is part art song, part indie rock, part mainstream jazz and part free form, but all Halvorson. Mirroring the progression of her trio, first to ...
read moreMary Halvorson: Artlessly Falling
by Franz A. Matzner
Released by Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Artlessly Falling presents eight new compositions, each of which is structured around a specific poetic form with accompanying lyrics/poems by Halvorson herself. The forms represent a significant diversity of cultural origins and eras, including Japanese Tanka, 12th century Sestina, French Villanelle, and Malay Pantoum. With each of the above sources arguably requiring deep study to become well-versed in, this central conceit might feel like a daring experiment, hubris, or a bit of ...
read moreMary Halvorson At 40
by John Eyles
Guitarist Mary Halvorson enrolled to study Biology at Wesleyan University, but she soon dropped the subject after sitting in on one of saxophonist Anthony Braxton's music classes there, instead studying jazz. By November 2004, shortly after her twenty-fourth birthday, Halvorson played guitar at the Royal Festival Hall, London, as a member of Braxton's quintet, the first of many appearances with the saxophonist. In addition, Halvorson played with or--from 2008--led a burgeoning number of groups, often including other Braxton alumni such ...
read moreMary Halvorson's Code Girl: Artlessly Falling
by Troy Dostert
Aside from her most obvious musical talents, including her phenomenal guitar chops and her budding talent as a lyricist, Mary Halvorson has a special gift for understanding the abilities of her bandmates and drawing out their strengths to the fullest. Part of it is the way she tends to keep the same company in her assorted projects: bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara are the leading examples, having recorded extensively with her in their trio Thumbscrew, as heard on ...
read moreMary Halvorson, Arthur Briggs, Theo Hill and More
by Joe Dimino
This week we open with innovative guitarist Mary Halvorson. She brings great insights on her career and this new COVID-19 jazz world. We also listen and interview New York City pianist Theo Hill, who is now in Costa Rica during the global pandemic. Finally, we hear from Roberto Magris in Italy during the quarantine. Playlist Mary Halvorson “My Mind I Find in Time" Code Girl (Firehouse 12 Records) 00:00 Host talks 6:58 New Mayfair Orchestra “Time on my ...
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