Illusionary Sea cover

Illusionary Sea

Released

On her fourth album as a leader, guitarist Mary Halvorson expands her group once again, adding tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and trombonist Jacob Garchik to create a septet. The numbered compositions continue with 31 through 34, but then leap forward to 41, and the album ends with her first recorded cover: Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine’s “Nairam,” recorded by Robert Wyatt as “Maryan” on his album Shleep. With this many players, it’s no surprise that the music becomes more orchestral and focused on interplay rather than extended solos; even when Halvorson steps out on “Smiles of Great Men (No. 34),” she’s shadowed by other members of the ensemble at first, and when her solo ends, the horns begin a four-way conversation, throwing fragments of melody back and forth and then dancing over a light-footed groove set out by bassist John Hébert and drummer Ches Smith.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Mexican Pavilion, New Orleans 1884 cover

Mexican Pavilion, New Orleans 1884

Ramiro González Jazz Trío
Trio Jeepy cover

Trio Jeepy

Branford Marsalis
Moving Cities cover

Moving Cities

Makaya McCraven, Antoine Berjeaut
Bap-Tizum cover

Bap-Tizum

Art Ensemble of Chicago
Amaryllis cover

Amaryllis

Mary Halvorson
Surrendered cover

Surrendered

David S. Ware
Pre-Apocalyptic cover

Pre-Apocalyptic

Michael Formanek
Arctic Riff cover

Arctic Riff

Joe Lovano, Marcin Wasilewski