Instrumental Jazz Review: Manuel Muzzu-From T(h)ree To Four

Release Date: March 12, 2023

Label: ‎ Independent

Website

From T(h)ree To Four is Manuel Muzzu's fourth studio album. It has been five years since I covered New Stories-Old Hands.

 

For those of you who may not be familiar with Manuel's story, he lost the use of his fingers on his right very early in life. His love for the bass and overcoming his disability is one of the miracles of his life. He endeavored to play as anyone else would typically and somehow adapt a style that worked for him.

 

You only record four albums if you can create palatable music and sound professional. For that matter, Manuel's talent is above average. Using the bass as a lead instrument is not uncommon but infrequent. With that fact in mind, it makes what he has accomplished more remarkable.

 

I have heard my share of the greats over the years and enjoyed the privilege of covering their music. Manuel's sense of rhythm and fluidity gives his instrument room to breathe and adjust to the music behind him. He has a host of additional musicians contributing, including synth, piano, trumpet, saxophone, flugelhorn, guitar, and drums. A complete ensemble to fill in the missing spaces to make each composition complete and allow his bass to lead the way.

 

What you will hear are various shades and colors of the jazz spectrum. "Punky Funky," my favorite track, is jazz-funk, while "Jeff's Style" is smooth jazz. Jumping from one style to another is impressive, and most importantly, you can keep your audience tuned in and waiting in anticipation for the next track. I like a wide range of jazz and subgenres. It holds many aspects that keep me engrossed in what I listen to. It creates a sense of wonderment about the talent you are hearing and how eclectic one genre can be. Jazz is a complex type of music that draws from many sources, including the blues. The ability to shape and mold those resources requires talent and patience to give birth to the varied tracks you will hear on this recording.

 

"Salsamba" is another instance of a complete change in direction to the energetic salsa and samba sound. Two different jazz styles merged, which is more challenging to create with a good flow. Manuel is exceptionally talented at diverting to any kind he desires. He does it all with a successful blend of his supporting instruments and an excellent bass command.

 

From T(h)ree To Four is an album that any jazz lover will appreciate because it crosses into many different styles. If you genuinely love jazz, you will understand this consummate representation of the genre. Anyone seeking exceptional instrumental jazz will find their way to this recording, not to mention those seeking a hero and an example of overcoming all the odds to do what he loved and shine brightly. Manuel Muzzu presents the miracle of a man's courage and persistence through twelve tracks you will thoroughly enjoy.

 

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikMan.net Founder

June 6, 2023

Tracks:

01. LAST ONE (6:19)

02. ON MY SIDE (4:40)

03. PUNKY FUNKY (5:09)

04. LOST IN (8:25)

05. JEFF's STYLE (4:14)

06. SALSAMBA  (5:49)

07. RIGHT NOW (6:36)

08. URBANOISES  (4:56)

09. SPARKLE PURPLE (6:20)

10. M'I ?  (4:15)

Instrumental Jazz-Rock-Fusion: Manuel Muzzu- 3-Ree

Release Date: July 15, 2020

Label: Independent

Website

3-Ree is Manuel Muzzu’s third proper album. He has a handicap (I would rather call it a disadvantage) with his right hand so he cannot use all his fingers. You would never know that until he told you though. His playing is superlative.

Manuel Explains: My songs are inspired by all the different sounds I manage to extract from my 6 string basses including what may sound like a conventional guitar when I use it as a harmonic instrument opposed to a slap or a straight forward fretless melodic one.

Now think about that for a minute, how does this man discard a disadvantage with the most important factor in playing a stringed instrument, your hands? Amazing is the word as far as I am concerned.

Many things come to mind while listening to 3-Ree. The attraction for my ears and tastes becomes evident straight away as the first track “Give a Fu(n)k” starts. Notice the play on words in the title. Manuel likes to have some fun and give you something to think about as you browse over the track list.
 
He then takes the classic jazz-fusion from Coltrane “Giant Steps” and gives it his title dropping the s calling “Giant Step.” I imagine you would call it that as it sounds like a funky electronica jazz fusion mix with that impeccable bass of his leading the way. It is almost like the sounds of older computers moving at light speed that you would hear in older sci-fi movies or from the space-age cartoon The Jetsons from the 60s. A very interesting take on a legendary jazz fusion track indeed.

Manuel has many guests adding to the overall sounds and atmospheres of each track. As each track progressed through all of its layers of changing bursts of colors and paces, I could not help but think of some of my favorites since I started listening to jazz-rock fusion in the early 80s. Al Di Meola came to mind at first. And of course, his first band Return To Forever that amazing supergroup. “Soca Suca” really brought all of that reminiscing and feeling back to me very quickly. I remember the revelation of hearing Di Meola and Jean-Luc Ponty for the first time. This is great music and for many reasons.

Manuel’s use of the bass is genius and how gets that guitar sound is incredible.  3-Ree is a stellar recording from start to finish. If you are a listener that enjoys jazz, smooth jazz, rock, jazz-rock-fusion, or all of the above, then you are in for a sonic treat of the senses. 3-Ree is the entire palette of the jazz canvas converging into one incredibly entertaining group of tracks.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
September 9, 2020

Track List:
01. Give a Fu(n)k
02. Kosong
03. Giant Step
04. A Place to Be
05. Soca Suca
06. Smoothazz
07. Stay Right To the Bottom
08. Just a Lullaby
 

Instrumental Jazz-Rock-Fusion Review: Manuel Muzzu-New Stories – Old Hands

Release Date: June 25, 2018

Label: Independent

Website

Manuel Muzzu has a handicap on his right hand that prevents him from being able to move all of his fingers. Well, you would think that is a huge handicap for everyday life never mind playing the bass, right? Not only did he cast the word or thought of being handicap aside, he taught himself to play the bass regardless of the challenges. He is definitely an above average player and he proves it on the 10 tracks on New Stories – Old Hands.

Six years ago, one of my staff members covered Manuel’s first release in 2012 titled The Right Hand’s Miracle. 6 years have passed and Manuel came calling again with a request to review his latest release. So here we are with an eclectic group of tracks to check out and all of them are instrumental.
 

The fact that they are all instrumental tracks makes the listener even more critical of what they are hearing. There is more focus, and on the bass in particular. What I heard was a literal jazz stew that included smooth jazz, fusion, rock and a hint of the blues here and there. That kind of variety is just my cup of tea. It showcases a talented musician stretching out and spreading his wings across the vast expanse of musical genres that fall under jazz. For my ears jazz offers a wide variety of sub-genres and most are quite appealing, as long as true jazz is the foundation that everything is built from. That is exactly what you get on New Stories – Old Hands. 

One of the best examples of a bass being a lead instrument is the track “Project 11.” Manuel bends and persuades those strings to make some gorgeous sounds and at times very powerful. In the first few minutes he just cranks, it sounds like something Jaco Pastorius or Stanley Clarke might produce during some their finest moments. That may be a stretch in some worlds, but as far as I am concerned he pulled out all the stops on that track proving that he is a force to be reckoned with. It just blew me away and it was after I was already totally impressed by what I heard. 

This is as good as it gets for instrumental jazz music that touches upon many styles, moods, and tempos. Miles would have been proud of you Manuel. Handicap?

¡Fantástico trabajo, Manuel!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

June 19, 2018

Founder of:

MuzikMan Productions

MuzikMan Reviews

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Review Provided By MuzikMan’s Reviews & News

Tracks:
01. Growling
02. 0, 30
03. From A to J
04. Gransalsa
05. 4U
06. Project 11
07. Stolen Notes
08. Gerdis World
09. Tre Note Per Vicente
10. At The End

Instrumental Jazz-Rock-Fusion Review: Manuel Muzzu-New Stories – Old Hands

Release Date: June 25, 2018

Label: Independent

Website

Manuel Muzzu has a handicap on his right hand that prevents him from being able to move all of his fingers. Well, you would think that is a huge handicap for everyday life never mind playing the bass, right? Not only did he cast the word or thought of being handicap aside, he taught himself to play the bass regardless of the challenges. He is definitely an above average player and he proves it on the 10 tracks on New Stories – Old Hands.

Six years ago, one of my staff members covered Manuel’s first release in 2012 titled The Right Hand’s Miracle. 6 years have passed and Manuel came calling again with a request to review his latest release. So here we are with an eclectic group of tracks to check out and all of them are instrumental.
 

The fact that they are all instrumental tracks makes the listener even more critical of what they are hearing. There is more focus, and on the bass in particular. What I heard was a literal jazz stew that included smooth jazz, fusion, rock and a hint of the blues here and there. That kind of variety is just my cup of tea. It showcases a talented musician stretching out and spreading his wings across the vast expanse of musical genres that fall under jazz. For my ears jazz offers a wide variety of sub-genres and most are quite appealing, as long as true jazz is the foundation that everything is built from. That is exactly what you get on New Stories – Old Hands. 

One of the best examples of a bass being a lead instrument is the track “Project 11.” Manuel bends and persuades those strings to make some gorgeous sounds and at times very powerful. In the first few minutes he just cranks, it sounds like something Jaco Pastorius or Stanley Clarke might produce during some their finest moments. That may be a stretch in some worlds, but as far as I am concerned he pulled out all the stops on that track proving that he is a force to be reckoned with. It just blew me away and it was after I was already totally impressed by what I heard. 

This is as good as it gets for instrumental jazz music that touches upon many styles, moods, and tempos. Miles would have been proud of you Manuel. Handicap?

¡Fantástico trabajo, Manuel!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

June 19, 2018

Founder of:

MuzikMan Productions

MuzikMan Reviews

Write A Music Review

Prog Rock Music Talk

New Age Music Reviews

Rate The Tracks

Review Provided By MuzikMan’s Reviews & News

Tracks:
01. Growling
02. 0, 30
03. From A to J
04. Gransalsa
05. 4U
06. Project 11
07. Stolen Notes
08. Gerdis World
09. Tre Note Per Vicente
10. At The End