Matt Flinner Trio

Music du Jour
Matt Flinner
Reviewed by John Walker

The challenge to create a new piece of music
each day while on tour, plus perform it together
that evening, was a novel idea. Acclaimed
mandolin player Matt Flinner, joined by Ross
Martin on acoustic guitar and Eric Thorin on
acoustic bass were not only up to the task, but
decided to select 12 of the best and record
them.

Flinner is widely considered the hottest mandolin
player on the acoustic scene today, recently
touring as a member of Darrell Scott's band. He
also appears on comedian Steve Martin's new
record "The Crow."

The acoustic instrumental pieces selected are energetic and inspiring. Each song
showcases their keen ability to not only play the instruments exceptionally well, but
also creates new standards in writing for other trios attempting to follow. With a
blend of bluegrass and jazz, the musical pieces provide a background of music that is truly mesmerizing. - Country Standard Time

Matt Flinner Trio
Music Du Jour (Compass)

Matt Flinner's latest ensemble, a
wonderful all-acoustic trio, can be
counted on to produce fresh-minted
sounds and satisfyingly inspired
compositions, and their latest CD is no
exception. Yet its title undersells it
contents rather, for it's more a case of
"music de douze jours" as it turns out –
since the genesis of these twelve new
tunes is a challenge thrown down over
the course of three tours by mandolinist
Matt to his fellow-musicians Ross Martin
(guitar) and Eric Thorin (bass): "to write
a new tune each day while on tour and
perform it that evening"! The challenge
was eagerly met, needless to say, and
the resultant set of tunes (yes, four by
each of the three) makes up this new
record. Inevitably there are passages of
mild indulgence on the part of one or other player. Sure, Eric naturally wants to
show off his skills on the double bass, but at least he does it in style (check out the
playful Free Circus and Stomp Hat for instance) and without unduly upstaging Matt
or Ross, and the same goes for those two and it never becomes an annoying trait.

Idiom-wise, several of the pieces naturally fall into the "progressive bluegrass-cum-
newgrass" territory, but even so there's considerable scope for inventive interplay of
styles and colours within that milieu. Tell Me One More Time and Inferno Reel are
arguably the closest to "conventionally" tricky bluegrass-soloing and technique:
stimulating and scintillating showpieces with musicality bolted right into the fabric.
Meager Hero is a neatly bluesy turn, Spur Of The Moment embraces a true lyricism in
its lovely melody, and Atomic City proves a more ebullient showcase for Matt's own
glistening skills – ebullient and expressive without needing to resort to flashy note-
spinning, and I'm constantly reminded here what an extraordinarily fine musician
Matt is. Intriguing dynamic shifts, telling syncopations and innovative texturings are
the order of the day, and all these are brought to bear during the course of these 12
exciting pieces, with the result that it's hard to get bored with three musical voices
as brilliant - and brilliantly together - as these. - Net Rhythms

Flinner, one of the best mandolin players ever, shows empathy for the creative possibilities of jazz on the 11 original songs of his second album. He experiments with shifting tempos, diminished chords and open-ended harmonies to conjure entrancing acoustic string band music. More lyrical than bluegrass, fiery in his passages, the Salt Lake City native relishes interacting with fellow risk-takes Todd Phillips on string bass and David Grier on guitar. - Down Beat

By Eric Fidler
Associated Press

Matt Flinner can play the mandolin as fast as anyone, but also is one of those rare virtuosos who knows that sometimes it's the notes you don't play that make the melody great. He leaves open space in his compositions, rather than filling them with cascades of notes.
That bespeaks a confidence in his abilities that is backed up by his assured, sparkling playing.
Flinner surrounds himself with a cast of some of the best players in new acoustic music on his latest release, "Latitude," and lets each of them shine.
This is instrumental music of the best kind---toe-tapping, smile-inducing, relaxed and sweet.
Get it, put it on, and your friends will ask, "Who IS this guy?" - Associated Press

"Latitude" is a lively collection of original instrumentals by mandolinist Matt Flinner. The photography, the light and deft navigation of the mandolin, even the smell of the liner notes emerging from the jewel case---fill "Latitude" with freshness, air and movement.
Each tune provides something for exploration. "33" seems a mando-bass etude, while "Sam I Am" is a game: it tip-toes, scampers, plays, conspires---mandolin to bass to fiddle (Darol Anger). "Altitude" offers a fascinating bass sub-text (Todd Phillips), a wonderful compliment for Matt's clean, clear melody and Jerry Douglas, such an accomplished communicator, floating his Dobro lines.
A departure from the effervescence and coolness of numbers like "Latitude" or "The Narrows" comes in the "Rock" segment of "Rock, Paper, Scissors;" even at a rapid pace, fat notes! That is, until the guitar of David Grier skims in, smooth and shimmering and as free as a paper plane in flight. The scissors must be the choppy change of pace---an harmonic moment, a wee pause, a dash, some blues then sparkling up, it's back to dancing about on the instruments.
"Latitude" has layers to listen to; the music is contemporary, well structured and varied. Well done! - Bluegrass Now

A former childhood banjo prodigy, Matt Flinner switched to mandolin in his teens and began winning awards and acclaim. He debuts as a leader here, picking and strumming his way through ten selections with Grammy-winning bassist (and producer) Todd Phillips and guitarist David Grier. Fiddlers Stuart Duncan, Darol Anger (from Turtle Island String Quartet) and Tim O'Brien, and Dobro whiz Jerry Douglas augment this spirited session, a freely-improvised spree that draws heavily from bluegrass, country-folk and Celtic ditties. - Jazz Times

Mandolinist Flinner, who represents the next generation of new acoustic music, offers ten ambitious instrumentals, ranging from lilting Celtic reels to delicate lullabies to modal jazz explorations. Veteran guests Stuart Duncan, Tim O'Brien, Darol Anger, Jerry Douglas, Todd Phillips and Mike Marshall are clearly in sync with Flinner's vision, which emphasizes stark melodies and open spaces you'd expect from a Miles Davis fan. David Grier's unobtrusively stunning guitar proves a perfect match for the unexpected turns of Flinner's songs. - Acoustic Guitar

Matt Flinner's debut as a leader is a gem of an acoustic album that blurs the lines between jazz and bluegrass, traditional and avant-garde. Working with the amazing guitarist David Grier and bassist Todd Phillips, Flinner spins richly textured tunes on the mandolin. In addition to the three-person core, all-stars such as Stuart Duncan and Tim O'Brien make appearances on "The View from Here." But all the talent in the studio never crowds out the songs, which are a delight from start to finish. - Associated Press