Mary Halvorson Profiled

Jazz Chronicles profiles guitarist Halvorson.

I’ve been enjoying what I’ve heard from 28-year-old guitarist Mary Halvorson – primarily in the context of Anthony Braxton’s bands – and I’m excited to be digging into her new CD, Dragon’s Head, on Firehouse 12 Records. A native of Brookline, Massachusetts, she admits to being a Hendrix fanatic in eighth grade (I knew there was a reason I liked her, although our eighth grade obsessions were a few decades apart) and she studied with fellow Bostonian Joe Morris, with whom she shares a love for a flat, dry amplified tone. But, in addition to Hendrix and Morris, Dragon’s Head subtly references Dolphy and Monk, as well as more obvious nods to Blood Ulmer, Derek Bailey and Sonny Sharrock.