Leader Projects
Amaryllis
Mary Halvorson, guitar/composer; Adam O'Farrill, trumpet; Jacob Garchik, trombone; Patricia Brennan, vibraphone; Nick Dunston, bass; Tomas Fujiwara, drums
Photo © Rémi Angeli
Amaryllis is Mary's flagship sextet and the current Group of the Year in the latest DownBeat Critics Poll. This line-up has appeared on three of her four Nonesuch Records titles, including 2025's critically acclaimed About Ghosts, which NPR's Nate Chinen called "a front-runner for one of my albums of the year." He added, "With this particular band, she's surrounded by incredible improvisers who really understand her language."
Canis Major
Mary Halvorson, guitar/composer; Dave Adewumi, trumpet, Henry Fraser, bass; Tomas Fujiwara, drums
Photo © Ernest Stuart
Mary's newest ensemble made its debut in early 2025 with a two-night stand at the Jazz Gallery (video below) and further announced its presence by headlining the fourth night of the Vision Festival. This quartet performs an entirely new book of her original music written specifically for this line-up, which is her first opportunity to work with both Henry Fraser and Dave Adewumi. Look for Spring 2026 tour dates in both America and Europe.
Collaborative Projects
Sylvie Courvosier & Mary Halvorson
Sylvie Courvosier, piano/composer; Mary Halvorson, guitar/composer
Photo © Veronique Hoegger
Since its serendipitous 2017 debut, Crop Circles (Relative Pitch Records), this longstanding duo has been steadily developing its own original sound and language. The Financial Times' Mike Hobart writes, "Bone Bells, their third album, expands their multidisciplinary approach into a vibrant juxtaposition of expressive emotions, playful asides and intimate moments. Traditions are referenced, boundaries stretched and the musically odd coheres into familiar shapes."
Mary Halvorson & Tomas Fujiwara
Mary Halvorson, guitar/composer; Tomas Fujiwara, drums/composer
Photo © Ernest Stuart
Built on a musical relationship that spans the last 20+ years, and a very long list of notable ensembles, this stripped-down collaboration features original music by both artists as well as performances of works by select female composers featured in Terri Lyne Carrington's New Standards, Vol. 1 collection. The duo opened the 2025 New York Guitar Festival (heard on New Sounds with John Schaefer below) and will play at the Angel City Jazz Festival in October.
Thumbscrew
Mary Halvorson, guitar/composer; Michael Formanek, bass/composer; Tomas Fujiwara, drums/composer
Photo © Brian Cohen
The history of this collective ensemble spans more than a dozen years and eight releases on the Cuneiform Records label. It's highly regarded body of work is a rare opportunity to hear these acclaimed bandleader/composers blend their talents into a cohesive synergy that exceeds the sum of its parts. Thumbscrew toured Europe in late 2024 and most recently performed at Portugal's Jazz em Agosto in August 2025.