Mary Halvorson's inner rockist isn't ever too far from the surface. On her new album, Code Girl, the guitarist includes vocalist Amirtha Kidambi in an ensemble that's been gigging sporadically for a little more than a year. The contrast between the quieter moments on the album that foreground Kidambi's contributions with Halvorson's most muscular musical proclamations create a new context for the bandleader to unloosen her compositional aptitude. - DownBeat Editors' Pick
PERSONNEL:AMIRTHA KIDAMBI, voice AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, trumpet MARY HALVORSON, guitar MICHAEL FORMANEK, bass TOMAS FUJIWARA, drums Recorded December 16th and 17th, 2016 at Firehouse 12 TRACKS:01. Mind I Find in Time02. Possibility of Lighting03. Storm Cloud04. Pretty Moutain05. Off the Record06. In the Second Before07. Accurate Hit08. The Beast09. The Unexpected Natural Phenomenon 10. Thunderhead11. And12. Armory Beams13. Deepest Similar14. Drop the Needle