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Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles

By Mark Corroto
February 16, 2017
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Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson: Crop Circles

Crop Circles is the inevitable meeting of two remarkable female artists. Both pianist

Sylvie Courvoisier

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Sylvie Courvoisier and guitarist

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson have distinguished careers. Courvoisier in her quartet, her large ensemble, and Mephista (a trio with Ikue Mori and Susie Ibarra). Halvorson leads a trio, quintet, septet, octet and is a member multiple bands including Thumbscrew,

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton's ensembles and those of

Taylor Ho Bynum

cornet
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Taylor Ho Bynum. Both women often perform and record solo and in duo, Courvoisier with

Mark Feldman

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Feldman and

Evan Parker

saxophone, soprano
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Parker and Halvorson with

Stephan Crump

bass, acoustic
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Stephan Crump,

Jessica Pavone

viola

" data-original-title="" title="">Jessica Pavone, and

Weasel Walter

drums
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Weasel Walter.

Both artists wrote music for this session. What's significant here is that the music, designed for this duo, while complicated, and at times knotty, is made into child's play. That is, if the child was a member of Mensa International. "La Cigale" opens the disc. Playing in unison, the musicians quickly split a the fork in the road. Courvoisier applies some prepared piano sounds to Halvorson's guitar pedal contortions. Both musicians reminding us their instruments are first and foremost, machines. They are also joyful delivery systems for things of beauty. "Aftershock" caters to a most delicate chamber, dreamlike sound, and "Double Vision" plies a d��j�� vu-like telling and retelling of notes, the kind that easily become a song stuck in your brain. The taut, almost claustrophobic, space conjured on "Eclats for Ornette" and "Water Scissors," are a complex math problem the pair must work out. Like all the pieces on this disc, they come through with flying colors, earning an A+.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

La Cigale; Aftershock; Eclats for Ornette; Absent Across Skies; Downward Dog; Your Way; Water Scissors; Woman in the Dunes; Double Vision; Bitter Apple.

Personnel

Sylvie Courvoisier/Mary Halvorson

Sylvie Courvoisier: piano; Mary Halvorson: guitar.

Album information

Title: Crop Circles | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Relative Pitch Records

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