Mary Halvorson’s Dual LPs Get The AllMusic Treatment

AllMusic has reviewed Amaryllis and Belladonna by Mary Halvorson, both of which are at radio now from Nonesuch Records. “The language Halvorson constructs on Amaryllis,” the site writes here, “is lush yet balanced and symmetrical. Her harmonic core, though fluid, offers a generous tonal palette for ensemble players and soloists alike, no matter who ultimately converses with who, while her melodies are simultaneously memorable, complex, and thought-provoking.”

Belladonna, reviewed here, “is as lighthearted as it is provocative. Halvorson’s love of wide tonalities and intricate harmonic interplay are anchored by sophistication and a healthy dose of wry humor. She weaves them together in five pieces that nearly sing.”