Mary Halvorson Quintet 5/19/12

[Steve Reynolds]

@ Cornelia Street Cafe

Mary Halvorson, guitar

Jonathan Finlayson, trumpet

Jon Irabagon, alto sax

Stephan Crump, bass

Ches Smith, drums

I have only seen a couple of the musicians before and hadn't even heard 3 of them ever at all...fwiw...I had also never listened to Mary's trio or quintet on recordings...so the only ideas I had about what the music would be like was in my head based on hearing Halvorson live a couple of month's back.

maybe surprisingly I was not surprised at how good the band was (very good with a few quibbles) or what the band sounded like (maybe I wanted to be more surprised)

highlights were Halvorson's tunes/compositions or as she calls them 'songs' which is quite refreshing, I think - 'songs' which come across to me as very melodic and maybe even hypynotic at their best. The first set was good with each member taking some solo space - on a few occasions unaccompanied - the first being a bass solo on the first tune (also I figured when I listened to the disc yesterday also the first track on the new CD) a solo which was pretty non-descript but also a couple of stellar drum solos by Smith during the short first set (both sets were about 45-50 minutes each).

The ending of the first tune was a bit racous and it laid down the foundation (not a formula but maybe a bit too close to one for my tastes) for how the night's music would be - wonderful melodies and harmonies with quite a bit of changes/developments within the compositions which kept it interesting from a compositional perspective. By the end of the first set, I was bit dissapointed in that the band never really hit any real incredible highpoints as the trumpeter (Jonathan Finlayson) and alto saxophonist (Jon Irabagon) played nicely but never took the music to places where *I* like to to see it go, plus the bassist only picked up the bow once for a very short interlude.

But that is me - I enjoyed the music but for me I am looking for something transporting or at least beyond scintillating - thankfully I got some of that in the next set....

never leave before the second set

ever

not as stark a difference as some recent second sets, but by the time they were well into the first tune, I felt a whole different level/energy at play - Irabagon played a pretty damn great solo which for some reason had me thinking Paul Desmond or Stan Getz (I know alto versus Getz's tenor) and he hit all the right notes - few that I expected to hear - his sound is a fairly light tone with an alto sound that he isn't as gruff as maybe I expected (wanted?!?!) to hear so the sound of surprise was making itself heard.

Mary Halvorson is simply one incrediable guitarist who rarely if ever shows off and just plays as unique and compelling a guitar as I can expect any guitarist to play. I could listen to her forever I think. The changes from a 'jazz' sounding guitar to distortion is organic and never seesm to be doen for 'effect'.

then the bassist and drummer go off on this bowing thingy and *then* Mr. Stephan Crump showed himself to be superb with the bow and everything else (where was that bassist the first set??) and the trumpeter hit his vibe - channeling Booker Little or even Kenny Dorham at times as he was really somewhat traditional in his approach (as was Irabagon) where by the last tune despite all evidence the the contrary I heard Free for All/Shorter penned Messenger tunes as an influence to the whole band WITHOUT the Blakey type of loud drumming with no tradition swing but with a strong grooves often driving the band and the music (Smith is a very subtle drummer who choose his explosions at the kit very carefully for them to carry full impact) or traditional changes - what I heard overall was a band playing some great tunes very well.

My quibbles are that the compositions, as good as they are, could be heard to constrict the band's full potential as I would love to hear them stretch them even further and at times forget about the tunes - as some of the best moments/passages were when the band really started to let loose - minor complaints I think - as this IS a band and a guitarist that DEMANDS to be heard - and her humlity and taste is a major reaon I left wanting for a third set....

Edited May 21, 2012 by Steve Reynolds

[mjazzg]

sounds great. I would love to see that band in London again. Meanwhile looking forward to her trio set with Evan Parker and John edwards later this week, can't wait.

[CraigP]

"Mary Halvorson is simply one incrediable guitarist who rarely if ever shows off and just plays as unique and compelling a guitar as I can expect any guitarist to play. I could listen to her forever I think. The changes from a 'jazz' sounding guitar to distortion is organic and never seems to be done for 'effect'."

Quite agree, Steve. You touched on one aspect that especially impresses me about her playing, that she can incorporate so many styles and effects and it all sounds right for the musical context. I thought her first quintet album, Saturn Sings, was very good, looking forward to hearing the new one.

[relyles]

I caught both sets performed by the band at Firehouse 12 in New Haven the night before. I was somewhat distracted the first set by someone's continuous flatulent problems the first set, but thankfully they did not stay for the second set. I have heard halvorson in several settings with Anthony Braxton and Taylor Ho Bynum as well as others. She is always interesting to hear. On this night Finlayson and Irabagon were particularly impressive. I picked up the new disc while there as well as a few others since Firehouse 12 was having a bit of a sale on the discs on its label.