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Jazz Articles about Mat Maneri
Craig Taborn: Compass Confusion
by Mike Jurkovic
Compass Confusion, the long hoped for return of Craig Taborn's depth defying, solo-gone-quintet from Junk Magic (Thirsty Ear, 2004), climaxes early and often and, however you like to be lured, It pulls you along with a lush velvet hook in your mouth. Reeling it in is a struggle but a blessing. We know that. We get it. CTJM thinks so too. First timers, saxophonist/clarinetist Chris Speed and bassist ((Erik Fratzke}} are welcomed brotherly into the fold by pianist ...
Continue ReadingCraig Taborn: Compass Confusion
by John Sharpe
Although a peerless pianist, Craig Taborn has been captivated by electronics since the age of 12, and he scratches that itch big-time on Compass Confusion. The role of post-production treatments in the creation of jazz records has a long history, from Orrin Keepnews piecing together the issued version of Thelonious Monk's 1956 classic “Brilliant Corners" from among 24 takes of the tune, to Miles Davis and Teo Macero forging masterpieces like Bitches Brew (CBS, 1970) from studio jams. Taborn's ethos ...
Continue ReadingJunk Magic: Compass Confusion
by Franz A. Matzner
Density. Shifting ground. Textural discord. Sharpness like glass. Resonant emptiness. Explorative improvisation, electronica sound spaces and electric beats. Released by the Craig Taborn project Junk Magic, Compass Confusion moves the fusion of live performance with electronica to the next level, making the division between the two often difficult to discern. The album incorporates a cross section of electronica techniques, including often lesser recognized subgenres like ambient, trip-hop, and minimalist industrial. This diverse representation of electronic music coupled with ...
Continue ReadingMat Maneri: Dust
by Neri Pollastri
Nuovo lavoro di Mat Maneri assieme a quello che pare ormai il suo compagno di viaggio prediletto, il pianista rumeno Lucian Ban. I due--che dopo il loro >Transylvanian Concert (ECM, 2013), hanno collaborato numerose volte--sono qui affiancati dall'eccellente contrabbassista John Hébert e dal batterista Randy Peterson, e si dividono anche la titolarità dei brani--cinque di Maneri, due di Ban, mentre i rimanenti due sono improvvisazioni totali. La cifra del lavoro non è poi così diversa dal lavoro in ...
Continue ReadingMatthew Shipp String Trio: Symbolic Reality
by John Sharpe
Pianist Matthew Shipp's String Trio reunites three familiar collaborators whose paths cross in multiple settings. Bassist William Parker and violist Mat Maneri complete a line-up unchanged since the triumvirate's debut By The Law Of Music (Hatology, 1997). In the twenty-plus years since that point, they have further cemented their standing in the jazz world as leading stylists on their instruments. In this chamber setting they function as interlocking parts in a mysterious jigsaw which depicts an abstract realm ...
Continue ReadingMatthew Shipp String Trio: Symbolic Reality
by Karl Ackermann
Of the many formations in which Matthew Shipp works, his string trio is one of the most eclectic and appealing. Mat Maneri, William Parker and Shipp have covered the breadth of progressive improvised music from chamber to noise. Shipp has dabbled in electronica and hip-hop, but more often in the genre-less manner which makes him stand apart. Maneri has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Cecil Taylor, Paul Motian and Club d'Elf. Parker's resume includes recordings with artists ...
Continue ReadingMat Maneri Quartet: Dust
by Glenn Astarita
The respective artists are firmly rooted in the modern vanguard of experimentation, improvisation and countless offshoots of the jazz vernacular. However, A-list bassist John Hebert is also a veteran of many modern/progressive jazz sessions but, as evidenced here, is also comfortable exploring the outside realm. Hence, the musicians dish out a rather somber and stoic chamber-jazz program amid fragile underpinnings and a slowly-paced gait with asymmetrical pulses and blossoming mini-themes. In addition, Mat Maneri's extended viola choruses assist with steering ...
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