On February 28, 2025, Mary Halvorson unveiled her new quartet, Canis Major, at The Jazz Gallery in New York City. This performance marked the debut of Halvorson's latest ensemble, featuring trumpeter Dave Adewumi, bassist Henry Fraser, and drummer Tomas Fujiwara. The setlist for the evening was not publicly disclosed. (setlist.fm)
At the time, Halvorson was promoting her 2024 album, Cloudward, with her Amaryllis sextet. The album received critical acclaim, including a 9/10 review from PopMatters, which described it as "a shimmering, deeply satisfying example of a jazz sextet firing on all cylinders." (nonesuch.com) The formation of Canis Major signified Halvorson's exploration of a more intimate quartet setting, allowing for a different dynamic and improvisational freedom compared to her larger ensembles. (maryhalvorson.com)
This performance at The Jazz Gallery was part of a series of shows introducing Canis Major to the New York jazz scene. The quartet's formation and debut performance underscored Halvorson's continuous evolution as a composer and bandleader, highlighting her commitment to pushing the boundaries of jazz through innovative collaborations.