Jazz Articles about Matthew Shipp

Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp's New Orbit

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 ...

Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp's New Orbit

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 ...

Matthew Shipp: Matthew Shipp's New Orbit

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 2000

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Matthew Shipp: Pastoral Composure

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 ...

Matthew Shipp Quartet: Pastoral Composure

by AAJ Staff
April 1, 2000

Matthew Shipp went into retirement earlier this year at age 38, after seven years of recording some of the most adventurous free jazz piano in history. Recently Thirsty Ear convinced him to come out of his self-imposed retirement and record a quartet album entitled Pastoral Composure. His new quartet features trumpeter Roy Campbell, bassist William Parker, and drummer Gerald Cleaver.

A more sympathetic group has rarely existed in free jazz. Campbell's trumpet lines range from outright clear melodicism to wild ...