Jazz Articles about Matthew Shipp

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Matthew Shipp: 4D

by John Sharpe
January 25, 2010

Matthew Shipp has become one of the most distinctive piano stylists operating in the free jazz continuum, recognizable after just a few notes. 4D, his sixth solo piano disc mirrors the format of its illustrious predecessor Harmonic Disorder (Thirsty Ear, 2009) though with pared back instrumentation. Altogether there are 16 cuts reflecting a wide range of approaches during a program just shy of an hour. One consequence of so many short tracks, with 10 clocking in at less than 4 ...

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Matthew Shipp: Traversing The Regions of the Mind

by Lyn Horton
January 25, 2010

On May 17, 2009, at 6 pm, Matthew Shipp walked through the front door of Roulette, a performance venue on the Lower East Side in New York City. His face appeared no more or less expressive than it normally does. He is wont to demonstrate his feelings facially, except through laughter and an occasional smile. On this day, his life was predetermined. He had arrived for a recording session for his sixth solo album, and his second for Thirsty Ear. ...

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Matthew Shipp: Un Piano

by AAJ Italy Staff
September 24, 2009

A una recente, peraltro ottima, esibizione di Matthew Shipp in trio, mi è capitato di cogliere il commento vagamente ironico di uno spettatore che sosteneva “beh, si poteva fare a meno della sezione ritmica, bastava come ha suonato da solo". L'annotazione, certamente ingenerosa sia nei confronti degli altri musicisti che verso l'attitudine all'interplay del pianista, è però significativa della modalità totalizzante con cui Shipp affronta lo strumento, attitudine che lo stesso musicista ha più volte sottolineato nelle interviste. L'interesse per ...

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Matthew Shipp Trio: Harmonic Disorder

by Kurt Gottschalk
February 22, 2009

It's been ten years since Thirsty Ear tempted Matthew Shipp out of his recording exile, and in that time he has not only made some of his most adventurous recordings for the label but has proven to be a daring A&R man as well. Now, a decade in, he seems to be circling back on his career. While some of the strongest projects on the label's Blue Series (including his own) have worked electronic instruments into jazz settings, Shipp has ...

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Matthew Shipp: Harmonic Disorder

by John Sharpe
January 27, 2009

Following up the excellence of Piano Vortex (Thirsty Ear, 2007) was always going to be a challenge for pianist Matthew Shipp. But with the trio's Harmonic Disorder, a slight change of emphasis has avoided the pitfalls of the changing same, while retaining the previous set's rhythmic and melodic accessibility. Whereas Vortex majored on eight pieces, the trio's wares here are spread over 14 tracks, with only three cuts breaking the five minute barrier, in a program a shade under 55 ...

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Matthew Shipp Trio: Harmonic Disorder

by Lyn Horton
January 23, 2009

The pairing of the words, “harmonic" and “disorder," forms a paradox. For in harmony, there is order; in disorder, there is quite possibly confusion. The question could be asked how these words together can be assigned to music on Matthew Shipp's trio recording, Harmonic Disorder. To hear the whole music picture, both harmony and disturbance need to be in the same place. The prevalence of the stark contrast therefore can become audible.

Shipp plunges his fingers immediately into a repetitive ...

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Matthew Shipp Trio: Harmonic Disorder

by Mark Corroto
January 22, 2009

Like his very good friend and sometimes bassist William Parker, pianist Matthew Shipp is well-versed in the outer reaches of jazz and the inner circle of free improvisation. And like his friend, he has produced a more conventional jazz trio recording, written in his own distinctive handwriting.

Beginning with Piano Vortex (Thirsty Ear, 2007), a new trio of Shipp with Whit Dickey (drums) and (guitarist and now more often) bassist Joe Morris emerged. As the self-titled ...