Mary Halvorson

Mary Halvorson
Halvorson with Anti-House, Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Munich, Germany, January 2011
Halvorson with Anti-House, Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Munich, Germany, January 2011
Background information
Born (1980-10-16) October 16, 1980 (age 43)
Brookline, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresFree jazz, Free improvisation avant-garde jazz, experimental flamenco, psychedelia
Occupation(s)Composer, musician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active2002–present
LabelsFirehouse 12, Thirsty Ear, Cuneiform, Nonesuch
Websitewww.maryhalvorson.com

Mary Halvorson (born October 16, 1980) is an American avant-garde jazz composer and guitarist from Brookline, Massachusetts.

Among her many collaborations, she has: led a trio with John Hébert [de] and Ches Smith, and a quintet with the addition of Jon Irabagon and Jonathan Finlayson; recorded duo albums with violist Jessica Pavone; and recorded several albums with bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara [de] under the band name Thumbscrew.

In 2017, 2018, and 2019 Halvorson won Best Guitar in DownBeat's International Critics Poll. In 2019, she was awarded a MacArthur "Genius" Grant for music.

Halvorson is on faculty at the School of Jazz (The New School).[1]

  1. ^ "Mary Halvorson - School of Jazz and Contemporary Music". The New School. October 12, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2021.