mjzee Posted December 21, 2023 Report Share Posted December 21, 2023 Release date January 19: The album features eight new compositions by Halvorson, performed with her sextet Amaryllis; the improvisatory band that performed on her critically praised 2022 albums Amaryllis and Belladonna comprises Halvorson, Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O’Farrill (trumpet). Labelmate Laurie Anderson also is featured on the album track “Incarnadine.”“All the music on Cloudward was written in 2022, mostly in the fall and winter, when things started moving forward. Life felt like a creaky machine starting up again,” she continues. “Air travel, however chaotic, had resumed, and we were once again cloudward. Performances and tours and recordings were happening after a long hiatus and with a renewed sense of gratitude. This band, for me, was quite simply working, both musically and personally, and the main thing I felt while writing the music was optimism.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted December 21, 2023 Report Share Posted December 21, 2023 Amaryllis at the Big Ears Festival in March Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted December 21, 2023 Report Share Posted December 21, 2023 10 hours ago, mjzee said: Release date January 19: The album features eight new compositions by Halvorson, performed with her sextet Amaryllis; the improvisatory band that performed on her critically praised 2022 albums Amaryllis and Belladonna comprises Halvorson, Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O’Farrill (trumpet). Labelmate Laurie Anderson also is featured on the album track “Incarnadine.”“All the music on Cloudward was written in 2022, mostly in the fall and winter, when things started moving forward. Life felt like a creaky machine starting up again,” she continues. “Air travel, however chaotic, had resumed, and we were once again cloudward. Performances and tours and recordings were happening after a long hiatus and with a renewed sense of gratitude. This band, for me, was quite simply working, both musically and personally, and the main thing I felt while writing the music was optimism.” That actually looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tranemonk Posted December 22, 2023 Report Share Posted December 22, 2023 I listened to one track on Bandcamp. I generally have not been able to get into her work. This one sounded a little different so I preordered. We'll see. I'm not a convert yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 Looking forward to hearing the whole album. She has a very unusual style, for sure ... but that's a GOOD thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 I prefer Mary is smaller groups with more improvisation & less structured mannered music. She’s great live when she gets more out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 1 hour ago, Steve Reynolds said: I prefer Mary is smaller groups with more improvisation & less structured mannered music. She’s great live when she gets more out. Is a sextet too large?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 1 hour ago, jlhoots said: Is a sextet too large?? For her most exciting playing it’s always been a duo, trio or quartet. Like Thumbscrew(trio), Tom Rainey trio or Tomeka’s quartet. The larger groups seem overcomposed and a bit academic or even sterile to my ears. Plus I’m spoiled as I get to see her live often in smaller groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabshakeh Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 I think she writes well for horns. I'm always either on or off for Halvorson. Not all of her projects are equal, but I don't think it's as easily divided as smaller group v. larger group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Rabshakeh said: I think she writes well for horns. I'm always either on or off for Halvorson. Not all of her projects are equal, but I don't think it's as easily divided as smaller group v. larger group. I like the personnel on Cloudward. Preordered. 😀 Edited December 23, 2023 by jlhoots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted December 23, 2023 Report Share Posted December 23, 2023 Where is the line between "composed" and "overcomposed"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 4 hours ago, JSngry said: Where is the line between "composed" and "overcomposed"? Too much structure in my view is “overcomposed” and “academic”. Holds the improvisers back. See Threadgill’s Zooid for a good example of great balance. The musicians in that band thrive within his brilliant writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 5 hours ago, JSngry said: Where is the line between "composed" and "overcomposed"? In classical music, some seem to think that "total serialism" (e.g. Milton Babbitt) and "New Complexity" (e.g. Brian Ferneyhough) fall into the "overcomposed" category. But there are musicians who enjoy playing that stuff, and the composers named have their fans. [Disclosure: I kind of enjoy Babbitt's music but have little time for New Complexity] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Ok then what would "under opposed" be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Are you interested in my thinking? I’m getting an odd vibe here, Jim Mat Maneri writes some great sparse sketches which allow for great improvisation. Maybe that could be called “undercomposed”. With his dad in the great quartet it was all free music with no pre-written music I’m still quite a bit more interested in freely improvised music so that might be where my somewhat negative reaction to compositional approaches that hinder creative group/collective improvisation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 I wonder if Mary and Threadgill might join up on something at Big Ears in March. They'll both be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LWayne Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Very much looking forward to this release. Mary seems to be endlessly creative and both her small and larger groups produce compelling and thought provoking music. LWayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.