Mat Maneri - Sounding Tears (LP)

Dive into the avant-garde realm of free jazz with Mat Maneri's "Sounding Tears," a captivating album released in 2017 on the esteemed Clean Feed label. This 51-minute journey is a testament to the improvisational prowess of Mat Maneri, Evan Parker, and Lucian Ban, each a master in their own right. The album features ten tracks that seamlessly blend the raw energy of free jazz with the experimental spirit of avant-garde music.

"Sounding Tears" marks Mat Maneri's first recording as a leader in over a decade, and it's a triumphant return. The album opens with "Blue Light," setting the tone for the eclectic and unpredictable journey that follows. Tracks like "Da da Da" and "This!" showcase the trio's dynamic interplay, with Parker's robust dialogues and Maneri's expressive viola taking center stage. "Sounding," a duet between Ban and Maneri, offers a more somber and introspective moment, highlighting the duo's chemistry.

The album's standout moments include "Polaris," a track that showcases the trio's ability to blend structured composition with spontaneous improvisation, and "Hymn," a reflective piece that brings the album to a thoughtful close. Throughout "Sounding Tears," Maneri, Parker, and Ban push the boundaries of jazz, creating a sonic landscape that is as thought-provoking as it is exhilarating.