“To try to define Mary Halvorson solely by the term ‘guitarist’ is to do both her and her art a disservice, as she’s unlike any other guitarist currently playing today,” says Matt Byars, co-host of NPR’s Essential Tremors. “Halvorson’s work is vibrant and alive, agile and electric, fluid and inventive, all of which are particularly in evidence on her latest release.” She talks with Byars and his co-host Lee Gardner about songs by Jimi Hendrix, Yusef Lateef, and Robert Wyatt that helped shape who she is. You can hear why on the episode, a collaboration with Big Ears Festival, where Halvorson will perform this spring, here.

Guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson has released a video of her performing her song "Night Shift" live with a newly formed sextet of master improvisers—Patricia Brennan on vibraphone, Nick Dunston on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Jacob Garchik on trombone, and Adam O’Farrill on trumpet—at Roulette in Brooklyn on September 8, 2021. The performance took place just three days before the musicians recorded the piece for Amaryllis, one of Halvorson’s two Nonesuch debut albums, along with Belladonna, released this past May. You can watch it here.

The Big Ears Festival has announced the line-up for its 10th anniversary running to take place in venues throughout downtown Knoxville, Tennessee, March 30–April 2, 2023, including Devendra Banhart, Sam Gendel, Mary Halvorson, Makaya McCraven, and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson makes her Nonesuch debut with two albums, Amaryllis and Belladonna, out now. The two suites come in a two-LP vinyl set or as two separate CDs and digital albums, produced and mixed by John Dieterich. "These are new landmarks in Halvorson’s already inimitable discography," exclaims the Guardian in a five-star, Jazz Album of the Month review. Amaryllis is a six-song suite performed by a newly formed sextet of master improvisers; the Mivos string quartet joins for three of the songs, making this the largest ensemble for which Halvorson has written to date; you can watch a new video for the title track here. Belladonna is a set of five compositions written for Halvorson on guitar plus the Mivos Quartet, whose parts are through-composed and augmented by Halvorson’s guitar improvisations. They celebrate the albums’ release with performances of the two suites in Brooklyn, New Hampshire, and Quebec next week.

Congratulations to Cécile McLorin Salvant and Mary Halvorson, who have won the Jazz Journalists Association's 2022 JJA Jazz Awards: Salvant as Female Vocalist of the Year and Halvorson as Guitarist of the Year. Kudos also to Christian McBride, who has been named Bassist of the Year.

Guitarist and composer Mary Halvorson has released "Flying Song," a new track from Belladonna, one of two forthcoming Nonesuch label debuts, along with the album Amaryllis, both due May 13. Halvorson describes the two suites as “modular and interlocking." The records were produced and mixed by John Dieterich (Deerhoof). Belladonna is a set of five compositions written for Halvorson on guitar plus the Mivos Quartet, whose parts are through-composed and augmented by Halvorson’s guitar improvisations.

The Jazz Journalists Association has announced the nominees for the 2022 JJA Jazz Awards, including Rhiannon Giddens (for Banjo), Cécile McLorin Salvant (Female Vocalist of the Year), Mary Halvorson (Guitarist, Duo of the Year), and International Anthem (Record Label of the Year).

Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer, and MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson makes her Nonesuch debut with two albums, Amaryllis and Belladonna, due May 13. The two suites, which Halvorson describes as “modular and interlocking,” come in a two-LP vinyl set or as two separate CDs and digital albums, produced and mixed by John Dieterich. Amaryllis is a six-song suite performed by a newly formed sextet of master improvisers; the Mivos string quartet joins for three of the songs, making this the largest ensemble for which Halvorson has written to date. Belladonna is a set of five compositions written for Halvorson on guitar plus the Mivos Quartet, whose parts are through-composed and augmented by Halvorson’s guitar improvisations. You can watch a video for the Amaryllis track "Night Shift" here.