Jessica Pavone is a New York-based violinist, violist and experimental composer. Her jazz-and-classical-inspired avant-garde music combines elements of improvisation and composition.

Background

Pavone is a graduate of the

Hartt School of Music The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford located in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States, that offers degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded in 1920 by Julius Hartt and ...

. While teaching public school in Hartford, Connecticut, she became involved with a community of improvisers and composers around

Wesleyan University Wesleyan University ( ) is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church and with the support of prominent residents of Middletown, the col ...

and avant-garde jazz composer

Anthony Braxton Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American experimental composer, educator, music theorist, improviser and multi-instrumentalist who is best known for playing saxophones, particularly the alto. Braxton grew up on the South Side of Ch ...

. In 2001, Pavone released ''Jessica Pavone & the String Army''. A year later she released ''27 Epigrams'', a collection of short pieces for small ensembles. Her music has been characterized as “avant-improv.” Around 2001, Pavone started performing with avant-jazz guitarist (and Anthony Braxton student) Mary Halvorson. ''The New York Times'' described her duo work with Halvorson as “intricate song forms met with startling jolts of insight that felt as rooted in experimental rock, folk and chamber music as in any subspecies of jazz.” She also performs as Dark Tips with Raquel Bell. Pavone has been part of ensembles led by Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, and Matthew Welch. Pavone has earned grants and commissions from the Aaron Copland Recording Fund, the American Music Center, The Kitchen, MATA, The Jerome Foundation. Her music has been released by Tzadik, Thirsty Ear,

Relative Pitch Records Relative Pitch Records is an American independent record label specializing in free jazz and avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, and experimental music. Run by Kevin Reilly, Relative Pitch has been ranked among the top jazz record labels in ' ...

, and other labels. Pavone has also performed with cellist Paul de Jong on occasion.

Discography

As leader / co-leader

*''Jessica Pavone & the String Army'' (Peacock Recordings, 2001) *''27 Epigrams'' (Peacock, 2002) * Mary Halvorson & Pavone, ''Prairies'' (Lucky Kitchen, 2006) * ''Quotidian'' (Peacock, 2007) * Halvorson & Pavone, ''On and Off'' (

Skirl Records Skirl Records is an American record label in Brooklyn, New York, that concentrates on improvised music. The label was started by Chris Speed in 2006. Roster * Jim Black * Shelley Burgon * Anthony Burr * Andrew D'Angelo * Trevor Dunn * Devin G ...

, 2007) * ''This Is My Violin'' (2007) * ''Walking, Sleeping, Breathing'' (Experience, 2007) * Halvorson & Pavone, ''Thin Air'' (

Thirsty Ear Thirsty Ear Recordings is an American independent record label. It was founded in the late 1970s as a marketing company for the then-unnamed alternative music field, and expanded to issue its own records in 1990. Thirsty Ear came to prominence ...

, 2009) *''Songs of Synastry and Solitude'' (

Tzadik Tzadik ( he, צַדִּיק , "righteous ne, also ''zadik'', ''ṣaddîq'' or ''sadiq''; pl. ''tzadikim'' ''ṣadiqim'') is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The ...

, 2009) * Halvorson & Pavone, ''Departure of Reason'' (Thirsty Ear, 2011) * ''Army of Strangers'' (Porter Records, 2011) * ''Hope Dawson Is Missing'' (Tzadik, 2012) * Normal Love, ''Survival Tricks'' (ugEXPLODE, 2012) * ''Knuckle Under'' (Taiga Records, 2014) * ''Silent Spills'' (

, 2016) * Dark Tips, ''Advice from the Underworld'' (Prom Night Records, 2018) * ''In the Action'' (Relative Pitch, 2019) * J. Pavone String Ensemble, ''Brick and Mortar'' (Birdwatcher Records, 2019); with Joanna Mattrey, Erica Dicker, Angela Morris * J. Pavone String Ensemble, ''Lost and Found'' ( Astral Spirits, 2020); with Abby Swidler, Dicker, Morris

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pavone, Jessica Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) American violists Women violists American experimental musicians 21st-century American composers University of Hartford Hartt School alumni Avant-garde violinists 21st-century American violinists American women composers Women violinists 21st-century American women musicians Thirsty Ear Recordings artists 21st-century women composers 21st-century violists