Thumbscrew, a new collective trio featuring guitarist Mary Halvorson, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tomas Fujiwara, will play its first two gigs at Cornelia Street Café in New York on March 11th and The Windup Space in Baltimore on March 14th. The group will perform all new music composed by each of its members.

The idea to work together followed a chance encounter last year in the rhythm section of one of Taylor Ho Bynum’s bands. “It was one of those situations where we instantly clicked,” Ms. Halvorson recalls, “and the three of us started talking about doing a project together right away. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what happens!”

She adds, “I have long admired bassist Michael’s playing, most notably in Tim Berne’s Bloodcount and on Am I Bothering You?, his ridiculously amazing solo bass record. In 2010, when I heard his release The Rub and Spare Change, I was blown away all over again. Tomas is one of my all time favorite drummers and a frequent collaborator. He is versatile, thoughtful, intense and extraordinarily deep in his approach.”

Learn more about the musicians on their Web sites at http://maryhalvorson.com, http://www.amibotheringyou.com and http://tomasfujiwara.com