Home » Jazz Musicians » Jessica Pavone

Jessica Pavone

Jessica Pavone (composer, viola, violin, el.bass) has performed in countless improvisation, avant jazz, experimental, folk, soul, and chamber ensembles since moving to NYC in 2000. She currently leads her own string ensemble, plays with the band JOBS, in a duo with guitarist Mary Halvorson, in Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Orchestra and as a solo violist. As a composer, The Wire magazine praised her “ability to transform a naked tonal gesture into something special,” and The New York Times described her music as "distinct and beguiling...its core is steely, and its execution clear."

Pavone’s recent works for solo viola and voice stem from years of concentrated long tone practice and an interest in repetition, song form, and sympathetic vibration. She combines her long tone rituals with delay, understated melodies and sparse lyrical content while continuously experimenting with new forms. She is interested in the physicality of performing her somewhat larger-than-comfortable instrument and believes that cultivating physical bodies as a strong container for her thoughts is part of the creative process.

As an instrumentalist, she has personally worked with and interpreted new music by; Aaron Seigel, Andrew Raffo Dewar, Elliott Sharp, Glenn Branca, Henry Threadgill, Leo Smith, Jason Ajemian, Jason Cady, Jeremiah Cymerman, John King, Matana Roberts, Matthew Welch, Tristan Perich, Tyondai Braxton and William Parker; and, has played strings in bands such as Christy and Emily, Pure Horsehair, White Blue Yellow and Clouds, Joy Mega, and The Artificials.

Pavone has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, performing in venues ranging from international music festivals, universities, and art galleries, to community centers and basements. Her music has premiered in venues in New York City such as, Roulette, Issue Project Room, and The Kitchen, and at the Klangbad Festival in Sheer, Germany. In 2011 she was featured in NPR’s “The Mix: 100 Composers Under 40.” She has received grants and commissions from the Aaron Copland Recording Fund, the American Music Center, New Music USA for her collaboration with choreographer, Anna Sperber, The Kitchen, MATA, The Jerome Foundation, The Tri-Centric Foundation, Experiments in Opera, and the chamber music collective, Till By Turning.

Pavone’s music is available from Taiga Records, Tzadik, Thirsty Ear, Relative Pitch, Porter, Skirl, and Peacock Recordings.

Tags

4
Radio & Podcasts

Jessica Pavone, Maher Beauroy, Wil Blades, Nduduzo Makhathini & Other New Releases

Read "Jessica Pavone, Maher Beauroy, Wil Blades, Nduduzo Makhathini & Other New Releases" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


Another set dedicated to new and upcoming releases, with a special focus on recent Hammond Organ trios and quartets; jazz from, or inspired by, Africa and the Antilles; a tribute to 40 years of the French festival Jazz à Vienne; plus the savory “free-range sonic stew" served by Jessica Pavone, Lukas Koenig, Matt Mottel.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Jack McDuff “Walkin' the Dog" Live at Parnell's (Soul ...

My Playlist

Jessica Pavone: gli album che sto ascoltando

Read "Jessica Pavone: gli album che sto ascoltando" reviewed by Vincenzo Roggero


1. Morton Feldman Patterns on a Chromatic Field (Tzadik, 2004) È il CD delle mie notti insonni. Lo suono nel mezzo della notte quando non riesco a dormire e vedo quello che succede. 2. Ramones Rocket to Russia (Sire Records, 1977) Grande musica da ascoltare a pranzo. Una delle mie band preferite. 3. Alice Coltrane Journey into Satchidananda (Impulse!, 1971) Adoro, tra le altre cose, sentire ...

356
Album Review

Jessica Pavone: Songs of Synastry and Solitude

Read "Songs of Synastry and Solitude" reviewed by Troy Collins


Violist and composer Jessica Pavone has been a fixture on the New York scene for over a decade. Her work alongside Anthony Braxton, Mary Halvorson and Taylor Ho Bynum has been well documented, revealing her skills as an inventive interpreter and improviser. Her own writing, on the other hand, has only been selectively recorded, and is often shared with collaborators like Halvorson and released on small independent labels.

Songs of Synastry and Solitude is Pavone's highest profile release ...

131
Album Review

Jessica Pavone: 27 Epigrams

Read "27 Epigrams" reviewed by Frank Rubolino


Epigrams are short, concise written works expressing a single thought or observation. Jessica Pavone adapted this concept to music by composing 27 short pieces for quartet (bassoon, English horn, cello, and viola); trio (marimba, Bb clarinet, and viola); and solo viola. The project spanned most of 2002 and reflected her changing moods and the textures of the seasons.

The quartet pieces were written during winter. Wrapped in solemn trappings, the product of Gil Selinger's cello and Pavone's viola establish a ...

Read more articles
204

Recording

Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone - Thin Air (2009)

Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone - Thin Air (2009)

Source: Something Else!

By Mark Saleski Tom Waits is a mysterious fellow. I mean, how much do we really know about him? Given the erudite nature of his music, I suppose we know enough. Oh sure, we've all heard the stories. Drivin' the kids on the field trip to the music store in that tank of an Oldsmobile... and not getting any recognition from the staff. Drivin' to the dump in that tank of an Oldmobile and getting recognized by the employees. Even ...

194

Recording

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: Walking on Thin Air

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: Walking on Thin Air

Source: Improvised Communications

One sings … and so does the other. Except when they aren’t. Which means that at any time when they are onstage together, performing as an entity called MaryandJess, or JessandMary if you like the ring of it better and prefer Christian name alphabetical, they’ll be doing just about anything at a moment’s notice, or with even less warning.

It’s not as if they don’t already have enough to do. Mary Halvorson, 27, has graduated from new-kid-on-the-block status to become ...

153

Performance / Tour

Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone on Tour

Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone on Tour

Source: Improvised Communications


178

Performance / Tour

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone / Jack Wright Quartet @ Lilypad on April 16

Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone / Jack Wright Quartet @ Lilypad on April 16

Source: All About Jazz

Thursday - April 16th The Lily Pad 1353 Cambridge Street - Inman Square Cambridge MA 7 PM MARY HALVORSON & JESSICA PAVONE Mary Halvorson - guitar/vocals Jessica Pavone - viola/vocals “The guitarist Mary Halvorson and the violist Jessica Pavone have worked together in ensembles led by the avant-garde eminence Anthony Braxton, and separately in a wide array of upstart new-music groups. As an acoustic duo they produce something distinct and ...

(Mary and Jess ) "Thorny compositions that sound as if female teen punkers the Shaggs received doctorates in the music of 12-tone composer Alban Berg, and then rewrote their Philosophy of the World.... Carefully notated structures and interplay morph effortlessly into free improvisation that is intelligent and expressive, but never self-indulgent. Also featuring intense lyrics sung with their clear and melodic voices, the two women make transcendent chamber music outside of any genre." - Elliott Sharp, Guitar Player Magazine, December 2007

"...lush beauty and exquisite delicacy....'Quotidian' is powerful and probing and thoughtfully written and executed." - Bruce Gallanter Downtown Music Gallery

Read more

Photos

Music

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.