The strength of the guitar in jazz is its ability to do many things. With a less defined role than the piano or a brass instrument, it can push and pull compositions in a multitude of directions. It can provide a driving bluesy undercurrent or subtly colour a track with gentle finger picking, and a great deal in between. On About Ghosts, American guitarist, bandleader and restless experimentalist Mary Halvorson leans into her instrument’s versatility within jazz ensemble playing.
Opener ‘Full of Neon’ kicks things off in fine style with its strident percussion and bass work underpinning wandering improvisation from the band. The fluid vibraphone lines of Patricia Brennan shimmer across the top of the maelstrom, while Halvorson’s guitar adds sonic counterpoint. It’s a fine ensemble cut and a rousing demonstration of her compositional ability.
With ‘Carved Form’, the guitar moves into the spotlight, weaving through the brass and entering a dance with the ever-present vibraphone. She has an extraordinary ability to create a feeling of uncanniness. Just as an element of driving bop-ish familiarity kicks in, her use of slide playing adds something woozy and unexpected, giving a disorienting edge. Titling the album About Ghosts is itself a stroke of brilliance. The set hums with the sonic spectres of a myriad of different musical styles all fed through the mixer of Halvorson’s singular artistic vision.
Halvorson’s regular sextet Amaryllis has been expanded with the addition of alto-sax supremo Immanuel Wilkins and fine tenorist Brian Settles. They join her regular trumpet and trombone players, beefing up the brass section, bringing extra depth and nuance.
The album is a masterclass in orchestration and pacing. Halvorson perfectly balances the all-out ensemble passages with quieter more stripped back moments. ‘Eventidal’ is a case in point, with its beautiful and effecting guitar and vibraphone intro, that leads into perfectly judged melancholic but warm brass passages that ooze their way into the mix.
‘Amaranthine’ provides a standout moment with its tense opening combining marching snare-drum, bright horn fanfares, vibes and some particularly odd-ball guitarwork from Halvorson. The tension breaks satisfyingly with the brass section picking out a beautifully wandering lead melody.
About Ghosts is a storming addition to Halvorson’s catalogue. Compositionally, it builds on her past work, expanding her oeuvre and balancing beauty with imagination and experimentation. The addition of two world-class saxophonists bolsters the range, depth and impact of the compositions on offer. Ultimately, she succeeds in perfectly balancing beauty and melodic implication with her restless experimentation. The result is deeply compelling and will have listeners coming back time and again to uncover more in these thrilling pieces.
