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Thumbscrew
Thumbscrew, Mali Obomsawin and John Escreet
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by Maurice Hogue
A few new releases by trios to contemplate and explore in this episode, highlighted by the latest from Thumbscrew, that stellar threesome of Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek and Tomas Fujiwara. Multi-colored Midnight is one of their best to date. Also on the bill, pianist John Escreet, The Bad Plus's latest with new members Ben Monder and Chris Speed, and from the Hudson River Valley scene, Bob Shaut, Charlie Knicely and Chris Bowman. Also very recent from another quartet from that ...
read moreThumbscrew: The Anthony Braxton Project
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by Mark Sullivan
The Thumbscrew trio celebrates avant-garde legend Anthony Braxton's 75th birthday with this project. Given access to the Tricentric Archives of Braxton's work, they focused on previously unrecorded pieces by the composer, multi-wind master and bandleader. In addition to their playing history together guitarist Mary Halvorson, double bassist Michael Formanek and drummer/vibraphonist Tomas Fujiwara have all had extensive experience working with Braxton, making them ideally suited to these interpretations of his music. Seeking scores that fired their imaginations (as ...
read moreThumbscrew: Ours & Theirs
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by Mark Sullivan
Thumbscrew is an occasional project for three very busy contemporary jazz musicians. Guitarist Mary Halvorson, double bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara have crossed paths numerous times on their own projects. All three of them participated in Michael Formanek's Ensemble Kolossus: The Distance (ECM, 2016), on Tomas Fujiwara & The Hook Up: After All Is Said (482 Music, 2015), and more recently on Mary Halvorson's Code Girl (Firehouse 12 Records, 2018). The trio's recorded debut was Thumbscrew ...
read moreThumbscrew: Theirs
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by Karl Ackermann
It has been four years since Thumbscrew, the trio of guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara, released their self-titled debut (Cuneiform Records, 2014). The trio is simultaneously releasing two albums--their third and fourth--Ours and Theirs on the same label. As the titles indicate, one album consists of original compositions and the other, covers from a very eclectic assortment of artists from Benny Golson to Wayne Shorter and far less familiar names. The latter of the two ...
read moreThumbscrew alla Casa del Jazz di Roma
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by Mario Calvitti
Thumbscrew Casa del Jazz Roma 06.11.2017 Il progetto Thumbscrew nasce dall'incontro di tre forti personalità della scena dell'avanguardia jazzistica newyorkese, la chitarrista Mary Halvorson, il contrabbassista Michael Formanek e il batterista Tomas Fujiwara. Tra loro è scattata subito un'alchimia che li ha portati alla fondazione del trio, che ha già pubblicato due album per la Cuneiform. Recentemente hanno registrato per la stessa label due nuovi CD che verranno pubblicati nel 2018, uno ...
read moreThumbscrew: Thumbscrew
![Read "Thumbscrew" reviewed by Troy Collins](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/thumbscrew_thumbscrew_tc.jpg)
by Troy Collins
Thumbscrew is the self-titled debut of a two-year-old trio featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara. As leading members of the next generation, Halvorson and Fujiwara have honed their finely-tuned rapport in numerous ensembles over the years, including cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum's flagship sextet, where they first met Formanek, who subbed for the group briefly in 2011.Formanek's storied career dates back to the '80s, when he worked as a sideman for such luminaries as ...
read moreJazz At Atlas Kicks Off 2019 Season With Thumbscrew
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James Keepnews
This cooperative project features a trio of gifted musicians and composers—guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer/percussionist Tomas Fujiwara—performing their own compositions and selected standards with an exacting prowess wed to a liberated swing that is glorious to behold. Thumbscrew performs on Saturday, March 30 at 8 PM. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door—advance tickets are on sale now. Atlas Studios is located at 11 Spring St. in Newburgh, NY. Ample onsite parking is available. ...
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Jazz This Week: Thumbscrew, U City Jazz Festival, Funeral Bonsai Wedding, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
There's lots going on this week with jazz and creative music in St. Louis, as two concert series offer their first shows of the season; a free fall festival returns; and other stages around town will be filled with even more improvised music influenced by everything from funk to flamenco. Let's go to the highlights... Tonight, the Jazz at Holmes series at Washington University begins the fall semester with a free concert reuniting the jazz-fusion trio Tracer, with pianist Ptah ...
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New Music Circle 2014-15 Season to Include Roscoe Mitchell and Craig Taborn, Tim Berne, Thumbscrew, and More
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
New Music Circle has announced their 2014-15 season, with seven concerts featuring what looks to be an intriguing mix of edgy jazz and improvised music, electronics, and contemporary composition. The schedule kicks off with a concert by Thumbscrew, featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara, on Friday, September 12 at Joe's Cafe, the house concert" venue at 6014 Kingsbury Ave in the Central West End. All NYC-based, Thumbscrew's members first worked together as the rhythm section ...
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