Jazz Articles about Matthew Shipp

About Matthew Shipp

Album Review

Matthew Shipp: Invisible Touch At Taktlos Zurich

Read "Invisible Touch At Taktlos Zurich" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
May 7, 2017

Pianist Matthew Shipp is prolific. Under his own name and in collaboration with with numerous other free-thinking jazzers--saxophonist Ivo Perlman in the forefront of these--CD releases seem to pour out of him. His best under his own name comes in the trio/duo/solo format. Piano Sutras (Thirsty Ear, 2013); The Conduct Of Jazz (Thirsty Ear, 2013); Piano Song (Thirsty Ear, 2017); and a duo set with drummer Bobby Kapp, Cactus, (Northern Spy Records, 2016) attest to his artistic focus and excellence. ...

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Piano Song

Read "Piano Song" reviewed by Troy Collins

by Troy Collins
January 26, 2017

Matthew Shipp has long been considered one of the leading pianists of his generation. Collaborating with artists from wide ranging genres over the past three decades, Shipp has maintained a distinctively singular vision with an immediately recognizable sound. Publicized as Shipp's final release for Thirsty Ear, Piano Song follows in the footsteps of The Conduct of Jazz, his 2015 trio recording for the revered label, although he is slated to remain curator of the imprint's ground-breaking “Blue Series."

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Piano Song

Read "Piano Song" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
January 21, 2017

The finest compliment you can pay an artist is that his music is instantly recognized in a blindfold test. Sure, back in the day most experienced listeners could identify a Bud Powell, Bill Evans, or Oscar Peterson recording. It's just, these days, there are so many Powell, Evans, and Peterson soundalikes, schooled in the art of emulation, that identity is no longer a prized commodity. That is, unless you value an original voice, one like that of Matthew Shipp.

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Piano Song

Read "Piano Song" reviewed by Matthew Aquiline

by Matthew Aquiline
January 19, 2017

It's difficult to encapsulate pianist Matthew Shipp's inimitable musical vision and approach exclusively with words. The elusiveness of his aesthetic stems from its malleability: Shipp retains his unwavering objective of unfettered expression, yet never fully eschews tradition, yielding an unrivaled brand of stirring music. A consummate innovator, Shipp's singular musical vocabulary has matured and diversified over decades of enterprising music, spanning a multitude of genres and musical ensembles. 2016 was a particularly fruitful year for Shipp, with releases ...

Interview

Matthew Shipp: Let's Do Lunch!

by Yuko Otomo
January 16, 2017

When Matthew Shipp asked me to design the cover art for his Points album (Silkheart Records, 1992), I showed him works from the on-going drawing study I was engaged in. He picked one graphite drawing and said, “Wow! This is exactly what's happening inside my mind when I play the piano!" Here, we talk of the history of his musicianship; creative process; spirituality; interest in literature and life in New York City. I am blessed to have known ...

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Piano Song

Read "Piano Song" reviewed by Karl Ackermann

by Karl Ackermann
January 9, 2017

Recent months in 2016 have seen the release of at least a half-dozen albums featuring Matthew Shipp including The Uppercut (ESP-Disk) with Polish reed player Mat Walerian, Live in Sant'Anna Arresi, 2004 (AUM Fidelity), a duo release with the late David S. Ware, the Bobby Kapp duo recording Cactus (Northern-Spy Records) and The Core Trio Live Featuring Matthew Shipp (Evil Rabbit Records). The four represent a broadly diverse array of music and now Piano Song further expands the artist's portfolio. ...

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Piano Song

Read "Piano Song" reviewed by Jakob Baekgaard

by Jakob Baekgaard
January 2, 2017

Depending on your perspective, tradition can both be a blessing and a burden. Especially in jazz, it is hard to say something new and this is true as well when it comes to the noble art of the piano trio. Thelonious Monk has been there, Bill Evans has been there and Cecil Taylor has been there--just to name a few innovators. It has become harder to identify gigantic stylistic leaps, but subtle innovations happen all the time. Recently, ...