Joe Morris/Mat Maneri: Soul Search

Nils Jacobson

Senior Contributor since 1999

Still scratching his head and wondering if it's real

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Published: July 1, 2000

Soul Search marks the first duo collaboration from Boston's guitar wizard Joe Morris and power violinist Mat Maneri, who previously played together on Morris's quartet recordings (eg. 1998's A Cloud of Black Birds). Morris and Maneri, both idiosyncratic stylists with their own signature sound, clearly belong together.

Joe Morris—without a doubt the most innovative guitarist to enter the arena of free jazz in the last ten years—relies largely on leaping single-note melodic lines and tight clusters. Morris's technical mastery of his instrument is frightening: the sheer density of notes he spews forth (and not in scalar form a la John McLaughlin) leaves other players in the dust.

Mat Maneri's musical fluency on the violin is also without parallel, though his signature sound encompasses a wider range of tonal territory. Maneri's inclusion of more chordal material helps fill in the harmonic space left open by Morris; and his bowing, plucking, and scratching attack provides tonal color to complement Morris's black-and-white lines.

On Soul Search, the stated intent is to break new ground and strive for sympathetic musical vibrations. In this regard, the CD is a total success. For listeners unaccustomed to the density and intensity of this duo, Soul Search may be overwhelming. But for those willing to take the leap, the recording is a stunningly impressive voyage through sound.

Track Listing: Slight Of Hand; Adhesive; Eyes Or Gaze; Natural Number; Versicolor; Soul Search; Flyer; Micron; Forwards And Sideways; Pluralize.

Personnel: Joe Morris: electric guitar; Mat Maneri: electric violin.

Record Label: AUM Fidelity
Style: Modern Jazz