Jazz Articles about Matthew Shipp

About Matthew Shipp

Album Review

I was scribbling notes while driving and listening to Matthew Shipp’s latest. Nothing any neurotic American jazz fan hasn’t done. It was my first go round with his new quartet and just before I changed three lanes, so as not to miss my exit, I scribbled “early-Jarrett and late-Corea meet Miles and Gil Evans in a Texas death cage match.” Besides the deathrace 2000 I do everyday, the energy forces from this particular quartet always give me the feeling there ...

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Album Review

Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp's New Orbit

Read "Matthew Shipp's New Orbit" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
January 1, 2001

Step into the temple. Leave your busy frenzy behind. This is a place to respect and honor the higher power. Matthew Shipp's second Thirsty Ear record since his temporary “retirement" at age 38 pays open tribute to the interstellar spirituality of Coltrane and Ra. New Orbit is a somber, gothic affair bearing some similarity in tone to Shipp's early work (eg. Circular Temple), but lacking the striking density and overt tension of his work from that period. The general approach ...

191

Album Review

Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp's New Orbit

Read "Matthew Shipp's New Orbit" reviewed by Todd S. Jenkins

by Todd S. Jenkins
January 1, 2001

Well, Matthew Shipp has finally grabbed my ear and won’t let go. After several years of not quite knowing what to make of pianist Shipp’s avant-jazz creations, this new album has cleaned out the wax and got me to thinkin’. Maybe it’s the gripping presence of Wadada Leo Smith, who replaced the less accessible (but assuredly most talented) Roy Campbell in this quartet’s trumpet chair. Shipp’s compositions also seem more interesting this time around, and the group interplay and improvisations ...

205

Album Review

Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp's New Orbit

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 2000

273

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Prism

by Glenn Astarita
October 1, 2000

Although Prism was recorded live in 1993 and originally released on the relatively obscure Brinkman Records label, pianist Matthew Shipp's self-induced sabbatical from recording seems to be a thing of the past. Along with some recent endeavors for the AUM Fidelity label and other modern jazz-based outfits, Shipp has been fairly active these days while also emerging as one of the premier improvising pianists on the planet. Here, Shipp performs alongside the venerable and highly influential bassist/composer William Parker and ...

126

Album Review

Matthew Shipp Trio: Prism

by Glenn Astarita
October 1, 2000

Although Prism was recorded live in 1993 and originally released on the relatively obscure, “Brinkman Records” label, pianist Matthew Shipp’s self-induced sabbatical from recording, seems to be a thing of the past. Along with some recent endeavors for the “AUM Fidelity” label and other Modern jazz-based outfits, Shipp has been fairly active these days while also emerging as one of the premier improvising pianists on the planet. Here, Shipp performs alongside the venerable and highly influential bassist/composer William Parker and ...

270

Album Review

Matthew Shipp: Pastoral Composure

Read "Pastoral Composure" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
April 1, 2000

Creative and free jazz pianist Matthew Shipp knows how to draw traditional jazz and non-jazz listeners to his brand of music. This is his second release for Thirsty Ear, a label where you are more likely to find Henry Rollins than Sonny Rollins. Shipp utilizes the familiar as a device to attract attention, then holds it with his improvisation and imagination. Two familiar songs “Frere Jacques” and “Prelude To A Kiss” are merely jumping off points that act as a ...