Shop our Big Takeover store for back issues, t-shirts & CDs
Follow The Big Takeover
The trio of Mary Halvorson (guitar,) Michael Formanek (bass,) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums,) known as Thumbscrew, make for an assured ensemble on their self titled debut.
The familiar partnership of Halvorson and Fujiwara is leavened by the addition of Formanek and his versed impulses on “Falling Too Far.” The group displays their sense of humor and deft touch to “Fluid Hills of Pink”, with Formanek again raising the bar with improvs both genuine and slapstick. The album peaks with “Buzzard’s Breath”, a track that, despite its unorthodox heads, grooves well thanks to Fuijwara and Halvorson’s synchronicity. The closer, “Line to Create Madness,” finds the troupe concluding on another high note, showcasing the strength of their company as a whole while still allowing each individual to illustrate their prowess.
While Halvorson remains an imminent force in the world of jazz guitar, Fujiwara and Formanek play far more than a supporting role in Thumbscrew and their eponymous debut is all the better for it.
