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Jazz Articles about Matthew Shipp
Chad Fowler / Matthew Shipp: Old Stories
by Mark Corroto
Call it kismet, karma, astral influence or just plain luck, but when two musicians instantaneously click upon meeting, magic happens. Indeed, that was the case with the coming together of saxophonist Chad Fowler and pianist Matthew Shipp. The New York-based Shipp is ,of course, well known to adventurous listeners from his solo and trio recordings, plus his history with David S. Ware, Roscoe Mitchell, William Parker, and Ivo Perelman. Fowler's name might be new to some ears. He is an ...
Continue ReadingMichael Bisio/Matthew Shipp: The Flow of Everything
by Karl Ackermann
In his definition of jazz, Wayne Shorter says “It's not...required to sound like jazz." It's a viewpoint to keep in mind when considering over-analysis of the bold activities of collaborators Michael Bisio and Matthew Shipp. Throughout their frequent partnerships, the pair have raised the bar on improvisation to a level that suggests an exceptional symbiotic form of structure. The relatively new Polish label Fundacja Słuchaj issues The Flow of Everything, Bisio and Shipp's third duo album and their first in ...
Continue ReadingWhit Dickey / William Parker / Matthew Shipp: Village Mothership
by John Sharpe
Village Mothership presents a constellation of stars which first assembled some three decades ago. Although released on drummer Whit Dickey's Tao Forms imprint, on this 2020 studio date the trio, completed by bassist William Parker and pianist Matthew Shipp, manifests as a cooperative effort, unlike their first appearance on Circular Temple (Quinton, 1990) under Shipp's leadership. As well as being the pianist's trio of choice for several years, the threesome was also 75% of esteemed saxophonist David S. Ware's classic ...
Continue ReadingMy Conversation with Matthew Shipp
by AAJ Staff
From the 1995-2003 archive: This article first appeared at All About Jazz in June 1999. Society as a rule, in the nineties, has become so accustomed to being spoon-fed their opinions and their ideas that if Rosie or Oprah doesn't recommend it or some guy fails to give it a thumbs up, it is immediately dismissed. It seems individuality and creative thinking has gone out of fashion. So it is not surprising to me that you have artists ...
Continue ReadingFrancisco Mela featuring Matthew Shipp and William Parker: Music Frees Our Souls Vol. 1
by John Sharpe
Music Frees Our Souls furthers Cuban drummer Francisco Mela's ongoing ventures in freely improvised surroundings. Already well-established with heavyweight leaders such as McCoy Tyner, Joe Lovano and Esperanza Spalding, as well as a series of dates under his own name, Mela has now enlisted pianist Matthew Shipp and bassist William Parker, two of the best in this particular business, in his quest for spontaneous magic. When joining such a long-lasting partnership, (Parker and Shipp first hooked up ...
Continue ReadingMatthew Shipp: Codebreaker
by Karl Ackermann
An intrinsic value in Matthew Shipp's music is his insight into the language of his chosen profession. The processes that have led to one hundred years of change in jazz are embedded in his compositions and improvisations. More than a dozen solo piano albums into his thirty-five-year recording career, Codebreaker, Shipp's latest such effort, furthers his exceptional amalgam of spontaneous improvisation and historical authenticity. More concise than many of the pianist's projects, the compact pieces serve to highlight the expressive ...
Continue ReadingMatthew Shipp: Codebreaker
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist Matthew Shipp has a habit of putting out piano solo and piano trio CDs in quick succession. In 2020, it was the solo set Piano Equation (Tao Forms) and the trio outing The Unidentifiable (ESP Disk). In 2021 he offers up Village Mothership (Tao Forms), a trio offering, and the solo set—and the subject of this review—Codebreaker. Shipp, at one point deep into a long career, threatened to fade off into retirement. That hasn't happened. In fact, ...
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