Mantle

“Mantle” is a 2020 trio recording by Natsuki Tamura (trumpet), Satoko Fujii (piano), and Ramón López (drums)—three master improvisers whose long‑standing musical relationships converge into one of the most dynamic and unpredictable entries in the Not Two catalog. The project grew out of Fujii and López’s 2019 Japan tour, after which they invited Tamura to join them and set themselves a unique challenge: each musician would compose one new piece per day, selecting their strongest material for the studio session. This process gives Mantle its distinctive character—music that is road‑tested yet still raw, spontaneous, and open‑ended.

The trio’s approach blurs the line between composition and improvisation: themes emerge and dissolve within dynamic switchbacks, expressive textures, and conversational interplay, making Mantle both structurally rich and emotionally unpredictable. Reviewers consistently highlight the album’s egalitarian balance, inventive writing, and fearless improvisation.