Mary Halvorson - Cloudward (2024)

Improvising means not having to have the story come to a finite end. And prolific guitarist Mary Halvorson clearly has no intention of stopping her varied and increasingly rewarding tale. On Cloudward, she's again aided by her current sextet of talented and adventurous collaborators: trombonist Jacob Garchik, bassist Nick Dunston, drummer Tomas Fujiwara, vibraphonist Patricia Brennan, and young star trumpeter Adam O'Farrill. (Laurie Anderson also guests on violin on one track). Brennan, who often fills the textural world of keyboardist, but can also embrace distortion and never-heard-before-sounds, is particularly key to Halvorson's creative universe—which can be revelatory for listeners who embrace the sound of working without structure. Recorded in New York City at Sear Sound with engineer Chris Allen and producer John Dieterich, Cloudward's sound is clear and there's a surprising amount of separation between instruments.

"The Tower" begins with Halvorson plucking notes—some twisted until they are sour—before she breaks out into fast runs. Vibes resonate like stones dropped in a pool while guitar strums in the background. Slowly, a tune emerges as both horns play together in short bursts, the cymbals are brushed, and the bass sets a slow, deliberate pace. The vibes return to center, leading in the horns' dreamy figure. This bravura performance ends with Halvorson's solo strumming. "Unscrolling" opens with an air of mystery, courtesy of cymbal flourishes. A steady beat drives "Desiderata," where Brennan takes the lead before Halvorson deploys the distortion pedal. Favoring inventiveness over volume throughout, Halvorson shows her generosity as leader and the value of true collaboration.

TRACKLIST

1. Mary Halvorson - The Gate
2. Mary Halvorson - The Tower
3. Mary Halvorson - Collapsing Mouth
4. Mary Halvorson - Unscrolling
5. Mary Halvorson - Desiderata
6. Mary Halvorson - Incarnadine
7. Mary Halvorson - Tailhead
8. Mary Halvorson - Ultramarine