Mary Halvorson Amaryllis Sextet - "About Ghosts"

Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer and MacArthur fellow Mary Halvorson is currently the talk of the town. Her recording output is now worthy of the Guinness Book, making her one of NYC's most sought-after guitarists. In October and November, Halvorson will once again be on tour with her unusual Amaryllis sextet and with new compositions and a new album About Ghosts in her luggage.

Halvorson's latest release About Ghosts (Nonesuch Records), the album produced and mixed by John Dieterich of Deerhoof, features eight new compositions by Halvorson that were also featured on her critically acclaimed (double) albums Amaryllis & Belladonna as well as Cloudward. The Amaryllis sextet consists of Halvorson, Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Jacob Garchik (trombone), and Adam O'Farrill (trumpet). Saxophonists Immanuel Wilkins and Brian Settles accompany the ensemble on five of the tracks. Halvorson's most recent records have each been named Jazz Album of the Year in DownBeat's annual Critics Poll. DownBeat also named Halvorson Guitarist of the Year in 2023 and 2024.

"Nobody makes music like her". Like many other media outlets, the US magazine JazzTimes made no secret of this when reviewing Mary Halvorson's latest record. With her double album Amaryllis & Belladonna (2022) and Cloudward, the guitarist has finally established herself as one of the most creative musicians of our time. Amaryllis & Belladonna ranked number one in numerous end-of-year lists and the record was showered with compliments. With her sextet, Halvorson celebrates an eclectic mix of compositions and improvisations that are both catchy and adventurous.

One of the most sought-after guitarists in New York City and beyond, Halvorson has collaborated over the past decade with a diverse roster of musicians including Tim Berne, Anthony Braxton, Taylor Ho Bynum, John Dieterich, Trevor Dunn, Bill Frisell, Ingrid Laubrock, Jason Moran, Joe Morris, Tom Rainey, Jessica Pavone, Tomeka Reid, Marc Ribot and John Zorn. She is also part of several collaborative projects, most notably the long-running trio Thumbscrew with Michael Formanek on bass and Tomas Fujiwara on drums.