Mat Maneri

by Stacia Proefrock Son of microtonal clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, improviser, theorist, and composer Joseph Maneri, Mat Maneri began playing music with his father when he was only seven. Though Joseph is himself a near-legend among avant-garde and jazz musicians, son Mat has already surpassed his fathers recorded output in the course of his relatively short career. Specializing in various violin derivatives, Mat plays the five-string viola, the electric six-string violin, and the baritone violin. He has worked with the Joe Morris Quartet, recorded numerous albums with his father, and also made guest appearances with Club dElf. His solo albums have been released on ECM, Leo Records, and the Swiss label Hat Hut. As the Mat Maneri Trio, he released So What on Hat Hut in 1998. That album featured Mat with Randy Peterson on drums and Matthew Shipp on piano. Another trio album, featuring Mat, Peterson, and Ed Schuller on bass, was released in 1999, entitled Fifty-One Sorrows. Blue Decco followed a year later; Trinity was issued in early 2001.