The Mat Maneri Trio: Fifty-one Sorrows

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

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Published: January 1, 2000

Violinist Mat Maneri continues his assault on modern improvised jazz with this new Trio outing titled, Fifty-One Sorrows. Here Maneri enlists fellow New Englanders, drummer Randy Peterson and bassist Ed Schuller, who are both at the pinnacle of their respective crafts while making leaps and bounds within modern jazz circles these days. The Trio is in top form on Fifty-One Sorrows especially on compositions such as Ornette Coleman’s “Tone Dialing” which boasts a hybrid swing/free-jazz motif while Maneri reworks the melody utilizing his baritone violin here and throughout. Peterson and Schuller are afforded the opportunity to insinuate or steer the course a bit as they often bounce ideas off one another in tandem with Maneri’s jagged lines and microtonal passages. The title track, “Fifty-One Sorrows” commences like a slow dirge while Maneri explores half tones and craftily propagates briefly stated themes via subtle and dynamic phrasing as this piece progresses into an emotionally charged if not invigorating affair. On this composition the flow is often hypnotic and cyclic akin to ocean waves slamming against a sandy beach! The piece titled, “OCD” is meticulously conversational guided by Maneri’s angular attack as the musicians stop and start various sequences ultimately leading to multiple three way conversations while seldom if ever, losing the pulse or in some respects, - implied meter.

On all accounts, Fifty-One Sorrows is a rewarding listening experience as this thoroughly modern improvisational troupe for the nineties exhibit many complexities along with dashes of nuance and to some extent a little underlying trickery of a subliminal nature. Upon repeated listens you are liable to detect variances in movement that may have eluded you during the initial spins. A great effect, which could only be attributed to the resiliency and intelligence of three flourishing masters! Highly recommended! * * * * 1/2

Personnel:

Mat Maneri; Baritone Violin: Ed Schuller; Bass: Randy Peterson; Drums

Leo Records website: www.atlas.co.uk/leorecords/

Record Label: Leo Records
Style: Modern Jazz