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Violin and viola player Mat Maneri's newest album, Sustain, was recorded with his quartet of pianist/keboardist Craig Taborn, bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald Cleaver. Multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee joins them on soprano saxophone on this haunting, suite-like work with repeating themes.
Mat Maneri, son of microtonal saxophonist legend Joe Maneri, has built up his career over the last few years, working with Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Joe Morris and others and recording as a leader for ECM, Leo and Hat Hut and Thirsty Ear.
His new album has an interesting structure—a solo piece, one for each musician, alternates pieces played by the full ensemble. On the first piece, "Alone (Origin)," Maneri plays solo viola, he softly and slowly bows and plucks; his dreamy droning solo segues into the next tune, called "In Peace," which is built up in layers, beginning with the bass. The drums then come in, followed by McPhee on the soprano sax and Maneri on electric viola. Taborn adds some spacey, stretched-out electronics over pausing percussion. Elsewhere on the album we hear an echoey piano solo using strings and the sustain pedal.
"Nerve" is the emotional and sonic climax of the album. By contrast with the rest of the album, it's a driving, almost cacophonous ensemble piece that has an intense sax solo, driving guitar-like electric viola runs, full deep bass and organ-like keyboard tones. The album closes with "Alone (Mourn)" a quiet, beautiful soprano sax solo, which ends with the sound of McPhee's breath through the sax.
Sustain is a fitting title for the album—the playing is stretched out and elongated, the sound of the instruments blend and meld together in this introspective and meditative work. Not easily categorizable, but well worth a listen.
Release Date: 5 November 2002
Mat Maneri:
Sustain (Thirsty Ear)
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last update 18 November 2002