Mary Halvorson, Writes Steve Pick, Is “Legitimately Great”

According to Steve Pick, Mary Halvorson “makes legitimately great records damn near every time she steps into a studio. This new one [About Ghosts] brings back the wonderful ensemble that made Cloudward last year and adds saxophones by Immanuel Wilkins and Brian Settles. Halvorson’s compositions are slow burners, insinuating their way into your bones as you enjoy the tight arrangements and expansive solos from such top flight players as Patricia Brennan on vibes, Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, and Jacob Garchik on trombone, not to mention Halvorson on guitar. She loves to utilize the multiple instrumental skills of her band, and though you can hear her own playing come to the front now and then, she is happy to be a cog in the rhythm section much of the time. Expect to see this on year-end lists.” Read more here on Substack here.

About Ghosts, out now via Nonesuch, recently spent two weeks on the top of the NACC Jazz chart.