Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson
Biography Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson
Sylvie Courvoisier
Swiss-born pianist and composer Sylvie Courvoisier is known for bridging two distinct worlds: the deep, rich chamber music of her European roots and the groovy, hook-filled sounds of New York City's downtown jazz scene, where she has called it home for more than two decades. Few artists feel equally at home in both concert halls and jazz clubs, playing improvised or composed music. But Courvoisier—"a pianist equal parts bold and poised," according to The New York Times—is as captivating performing Stravinsky's iconic Ritual of Spring alongside flamenco dancer and choreographer Israel Galván and pianist Cory Smythe as she is improvising with her own widely acclaimed jazz trio, including bassist Drew Gress and drummer Kenny Wollesen. In music, as in life, Courvoisier pushes boundaries with a creative spirit and freethinking; her music-making is as playful as it is intense, as tradition-minded as it is exploratory and fearless.
Mary Halvorson
Guitarist and composer Mary Halvorson has been called "New York City's most unpredictable improviser" (Howard Mandel, City Arts), "the most forward-thinking guitarist currently working" (Lars Gotrich, NPR.org), and "one of the most impressive bandleaders working today" (Francis Davis, Village Voice). Halvorson's recent releases, Amaryllis and Belladonna, feature her string quartet compositions, skillfully interpreted by the Mivos Quartet, as well as a new sextet with Adam O'Farrill (trumpet), Jacob Garchik (trombone), Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Nick Dunston (bass), and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). The two debut albums for Nonesuch Records, released in May 2022, were hailed in a five-star review by The Guardian as "...new milestones in Halvorson's already inimitable discography."
