Fifty-One Sorrows

The violin is a rarity in modern jazz, and even more so in the realm of the avant-garde. Matt Maneri has carved an important niche in the latter genre, and as he shows on this recording, he is capable of plucking and stroking at the highest levels of performance. The eight pieces (six by Maneri and two takes of Ornette Coleman's "Tone Dialing") recorded by his trio (Maneri on bass violin, Ed Schuller on string bass, and Randy Peterson on drums) are stellar examples of free improvisation. Without resorting to overblowing or screeches, they explore the limits of restraint, and mesh in a singularly fractured way. Maneri can blow with the best, his refined technique and muscular tone perfect for the context. Schuller continues to impress on bass, and this type of free setting among congenial colleagues may be his best context in which to solo. Peterson has performed with Maneri often, and the rapport shows. ~ Steven Loewy|