Joëlle Léandre, Craig Taborn, and Mat Maneri: hEARoes

  The audience at the 2022 Festival Sons d’Hiver, at the Théatre Antoine Vitez in the Paris suburbs, was treated to an enthralling set of instantly invented music by the trio of Joëlle Léandre, Craig Taborn, and Mat Maneri. hEARoes, a beautifully recorded CD from the Rogue Art label, is the next best thing to having been there. Pianist Taborn and violist Maneri have worked together frequently since their first recorded encounter in 2000, on projects led by each of them, as well as for leaders like Steve Coleman and Ches Smith. Bassist Léandre’s vast discography includes encounters with Derek Bailey, Irene Schweizer, Anthony Braxton, and many others. The three came together for this show as a unit for the first time, and they cover a lot of improvisational ground in under 40 minutes. The seven sections appear to be one lengthy performance. The gentle strands of sound in the opening few minutes are followed by a sort of mutant blues instigated by Taborn’s piano on E. From there, the proceedings develop in a seemingly natural, if unpredictable way. Highlights include Léandre’s playful arco bass solo on A, the trio’s random dissonant squawk on R, and the delicate call and response that animates e. It’s the astute actions of the musicians, their reactions and further reactions that form the core of this ensemble’s music. The opportunity to listen to the set again and again allows the listener to fully grasp the trio’s marvelously close sensitivity and rapport. Definitely recommended. 

Rogue Art ROG-0127; Mat Maneri (vla) Joëlle Léandre (b) Craig Taborn (p); Ivry-sur-Seine, France, February 12, 2022; h/E/A/R/o /e /s; 39:42. roguart.com