Mary Halvorson Septet: Illusionary Sea (Firehouse12)

Mary Halvorson Septet´s new album "Illusionary Sea" was released on Firehouse 12 today, and it´s sounding great!

Let´s cite Firehouse 12: "Halvorson closes the recording with a surprise, paying tribute to one of her musical heroes, Robert Wyatt. Her exquisite arrangement of "Nairam" - penned by Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine and recorded under the title "Maryan" on Wyatt's album Shleep - is the first cover to appear of any of Halvorson's albums as leader."

The septet:
Jonathan Finlayson - trumpet
Jon Irabagon - alto saxophone
Ingrid Laubrock - tenor saxophone
Jacob Garchik - trombone
Mary Halvorson - guitar
John Hébert - bass
Ches Smith - drums

Why don´t you run over to Firehouse 12 to buy the album (or just listen, if you don´t like it here)?

And the Mary Halvorson - Robert Wyatt connection is not quite new. AAJ says this about her previous album on Firehouse 12, "Saturn Sings" (2010): "The harmonies, says Halvorson, were influenced by such diverse inspirations as trumpeter Clifford Brown, singers Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, pianist Thelonious Monk, saxophonist Archie Shepp and composers Alexander Scriabin, Dmitri Shostakovich and Robert Wyatt".