A double-length set from guitarist
Mary Halvorson – with two different albums in the package! First up is A
maryllis – a record that has the fantastic guitar of
Mary Halvorson amidst so many other sounds and shapes – delivered by a lineup that features Patricia Brennan on vibes, Jacob Garchik on trombone, and Adam O'Farrill on trumpets – all players who already shape the sound in these fantastically colorful way, then get some extra help from the Mivos string quartet! The rhythm duo at the core do a lot too – keeping things moving in these blocks of sound that often fit
Mary's approach to guitar – with work from Nick Dunston on bass and Tomas Fujiwara on drums, both players who seem to find the right balance with the overall sound of the group, yet really make the contribution known. Titles include "Side Effect", "A
maryllis", "Hoodwink", "Night Shift", and "892 Teeth". On Belladona,
Mary Halvorson has a very unique guest – the Mivos Quartet, who bring a sublime blend of violin, viola, and cello into play with the fantastic tones from
Mary's guitar! The set's not like when you add a string group to conventional jazz – as the sound here is much more about the interplay between the acoustic strings – partly the rasp of Halvorson's tones next to the warmer currents of the other instruments – partly the mix of plucked, strummed, and bowed passages that create a multiplicity of sounds and feelings! Halvorson has always given us something amazing with each new record – yet still, this one's a real standout – with titles that include "Haunted Head", "Belladonna", "Flying Song", "Moonburn", and "Nodding Yellow".