Hailing from New York, mary halvorson is a composer and guitarist whose innovative works blend powerful melodies with captivating harmonies, even amidst the most chaotic arrangements. Her latest endeavor, titled About Ghosts, showcases an enhanced version of her amaryllis ensemble, which previously released one of the standout jazz albums of 2024—Cloudward. this ensemble features talented musicians including Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, Jacob Garchik on trombone, Patricia Brennan on vibraphone, slit Dunston on bass, and Tomas fujiwara on drums. They are joined by alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins—renowned for his gospel-infused style—and tenor saxophonist Brian Settles who draws inspiration from Wayne shorter.
The inclusion of these two artists considerably enriches the sonic landscape of this album by adding deeper tonal layers and a wider expressive spectrum to Halvorson’s signature brass fanfares. The dynamic interplay between boppish improvisation and abstract melodies is further enhanced by vibrant drumming throughout the tracks. The opening piece “Fleshy of Neon” exemplifies Halvorson’s diverse ensemble capabilities: it features marching percussion patterns interspersed with intricate improvisational introductions that lead into fluid solos alongside engaging collective sections characterized by lively horn exchanges. Following this is “Carved From,” which transitions from a tranquil solo introduction featuring lush horn chords into energetic improvisations led by both Halvorson and Wilkins; their collaboration merges sharply defined guitar motifs with exuberant bursts from the alto saxophone.
Halvorson’s compositions do not strive for cinematic storytelling; instead, they enchant through their complex internal symmetries and tensions. Melodic components often take on rhythmic roles while bending under rhythmic pressure together. At times her harmonies evoke nostalgia for big band jazz; at othre moments they reflect contemporary classical influences. The title track begins gently but evolves into an engaging exploration filled with improvisation that continuously reshapes thematic ideas while “Eventidal” offers a stunning ballad showcasing interplay between guitar and vibes; in contrast,tracks like “Absinthian” and “Amaranthine” present tightly woven bebop lines that invigorate listeners’ senses. In a recent conversation with Jazzwise magazine about British singer-songwriter Robert Wyatt’s unique fusion of “the novel with the sexy,” Halvorson expressed admiration for his artistry—though she may not explicitly acknowledge it herself; she embodies similar qualities within her own creations.
Noteworthy Releases This Month
This year marks 50 years since Keith Jarrett‘s legendary Köln concert performance took place; as part of this commemoration comes Original Vienna (ECM), recorded during his final solo tour in 2016 when he was already 80 years old—a familiar yet challenging hour filled with exhilarating free-form explorations intertwined within catchy rock rhythms alongside delicate romantic pieces.Concurrently occurring is French flautist-composer Naïssam Jalal, who follows up her critically acclaimed album Therapeutic Rituals (2023) with Souffles (Les Couleurs du Son), presenting eight distinct duos featuring prominent wind instrumentalists where her flute dances vibrantly around Louis Sclavis’s evocative bass clarinet while creating harmonious dialogues alongside Émile Parisien’s soprano saxophone—all enriched further through vocal expressions as Archie shepp contributes gruffly bluesy tenor sax lines to enhance their collaborative soundscape.
Additionally,Amoeba’s Dance (Misfortune within the East), led by award-winning Berlin-based saxophonist-composer Silke Eberhard, showcases an expanded Potsa Lotsa group that creatively employs intricately structured yet consistently vibrant compositions throughout their performance.