Thumbscrew

Thumbscrew is a trio formed in 2011, when bassist Michael Formanek was a sub in a group led by cornet player Taylor Ho Bynum that also included guitarist Mary Halvorson and drummer Tomas Fujiwara. They immediately recognized their shared musical chemistry and decided to continue working together as a discrete unit. They’re a musical co-operative; everybody contributes compositions written specifically for this band, and the music has a collective feel. You never get the sense that any member is waiting impatiently for their turn to solo. This debut CD features three compositions by each member, and allows them to explore a variety of moods. At times, like on the opening “Cheap Knock Off,” they rock as hard as the Hedvig Mollestad Trio, while “Buzzard’s Breath” is full of subtle left turns and subversions, whether it’s Halvorson’s guitar seeming to slide out of tune or Formanek and Fujiwara having a constant, low-level discussion about where the rhythm is headed, and how.