There are musicians who release a lot and there are musicians who have a lot to say. Guitarist Mary Halvorson belongs to the second category. She is simply very productive, and the fact that she is releasing two albums at the same time combined into a double album on vinyl for her label debut on Nonesuch can only be described as consistent. She has recorded the two 40-minute albums in part with the same musicians here. On »Amaryllis« she presents her current sextet, half of the tracks were also recorded with the Mivos Quartet. The same string quartet supports Halvorson on »Belladonna«, here without her sextet. While »Amaryllis« is more improvised, Halvorson composed the string parts on »Belladonna« and only contributes improvisations on the guitar. Other musicians sometimes give cause for concern when they cross jazz formations with classical instrumentations; not everyone necessarily has good taste. Halvorson is different. The »Aeeauh« glissando that cuts out briefly in between belongs to her just as much as her large-bodied instrument, and she is not only a virtuoso jazz musician, but also an accomplished composer. You can hear this on »Amaryllis« in the constant new timbres she coaxes out of her ensemble, or in the way she makes 10/8 bars groove in an edgy way. »Belladonna« is modern chamber jazz exclusively on plucked and bowed strings, more strictly structured but no less agile. Intellectual music that’s a pleasure to listen to.
Mary Halvorson
Cloudward
Nonesuch