Mary Halvorson Quintet

A veteran of the ensembles of esteemed saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton, guitarist and composer Mary Holvorson returns to Philadelphia with her new quintet. In addition to her acclaimed trio and quintet, she co-leads a chamber music duo with violist Jessica Pavone and the avant-rock band, People, with drummer Kevin Shea. Halvorson has also performed with groups led by Tim Berne, Taylor Ho Bynum, Trevor Dunn, Tony Malaby, Nicole Mitchell, Jason Moran, Matana Roberts, Elliott Sharp and John Tchicai, among many others.

In 2008, the success of her trio's debut, "Dragon's Head" (Firehouse 12 Records), led critics to call Ms. Halvorson "probably the most original jazz guitarist to emerge this decade" (Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader) and "the freshest, busiest, most critically acclaimed guitar-slinger out of downtown Manhattan/Brooklyn right now" (Howard Mandel, Jazz Beyond Jazz). For this special performance she is joined by bassist Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, John Zorn, Fantomas), saxophonist Jon Irabagon, winner of the 2008 Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition and member of Mostly Other People Do The Killing, and rising stars Tomas Fujiwara and Jonathan Finlayson (Steve Lehman, Steve Coleman).