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"HiGH ▀ iNTELLiGeNCE tRoLLS"
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a r t i s t : Mat Maneri
t i t l e : Sustain
d a t e : 2002
l a b e l : Thisty Ear
g e n r e : Jazz
r l s. d a t e : Oct-2004
t r a c k s : 09
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 87,0 MB
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Mat Maneri: violas;
Joe McPhee: soprano saxophone;
Craig Taborn: keyboards;
William Parker: bass;
Gerald Cleaver: drums;
In the last couple of years, Mat Maneri has been incredibly
prolific. His versatility and range, especially on the viola,
have facilitated work within widely different musical contexts.
On Sustain he joins a quartet of active NYC musicians, plus
special guest Joe McPhee on soprano saxophone. These players
have built strong intuitive relationships over time in various
collaborations, enabling them to make musical statements in an
unforced, natural way. Sustain offers deliberate, open
individual and collective improvisation.
The tracks on Sustain alternate between the "Alone" series
(solo performances by each musician) and group improvisations.
The contrast afforded through this arrangement allows the
listener to appreciate each individual voice both on its own
and in combination with the other players, making for a nice
overall sound because everyone has something different to say.
Maneri opens the disc with round, resonant notes rich with
harmonics, hinting more than he actually states. (That leads
quite nicely into the group tune "In Peace," a sort of
psychedelic trip through outer sound.) William Parker's take on
"Alone (Unravel)" strays from his usual intensity to a more
open, spacious aura. And when he goes out on his own, drummer
Gerald Cleaver coaxes texture and color from his kit,
suggesting rub more than hit, stroke more than punch.
The four quintet pieces span a wide range of moods without
sounding contrived or scattered. "Nerve" has a frantic, bubbly
energy that hurries ahead, rarely pausing to gather steam. Both
Craig Taborn and Maneri use effects to alter their sound,
bringing it perilously close to a primal scream; meanwhile, the
rhythm section stops and starts, eventually heading toward a
insistent groove and then off into the wild beyond. On the
other hand, the title track showcases Maneri's ability to say
more with less. Gentle, undulating viola lines intertwine with
McPhee's floating voice on the soprano sax, lending an ethereal
atmosphere through generous use of space and time.
As might be expected from a group of this caliber, Sustain is a
fine disc. Its inventiveness and range most emphatically
reflect Maneri's own approach to improvisation.
Visit www.thirstyear.com for more information.
~ Nils Jacobson
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01-Alone (Origin) [06:00]
02-In Peace [08:52]
03-Alone (Construct) [04:54]
04-Sustain [08:13]
05-Alone (Unravel) [03:39]
06-Nerve [09:08]
07-Alone (Cleanse) [02:52]
08-Divine [07:24]
09-Alone (Mourn) [02:16]
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53:18 min
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