Home »
Jazz Articles » Album Review » Matthew Shipp: Equilibrium
Matthew Shipp: Equilibrium
Equilibrium represents the second collaboration between pianist Matthew Shipp and electronic expert FLAM, after last year's successful
Nu Bop. The lineup is the same, except reed man Daniel Carter is replaced by vibraphonist Khan Jamal, who adds a sense of heightened continuity to the quartet's sound.
The opening number, “Equilibrium,” is a splendid example of the harmony achieved by the group. Shipp’s classical approach stirs up some unique dialog with Khan Jamal's vibes, while William Parker’s bass line holds everything together.
The next number, “Vamp to Vibe,” adds FLAM to the mix, recalling Herbie Hancock and Bobby Hutcherson and exploding sounds with a heavy bass line and back beat.
“Cohesion” is a number which ought to be featured on any jazz radio station that seeks to play "out" music without going to the limit. Just listening to William Parker is pure joy.
If you enjoyed Shipp's Nu Bop from last year, you're likely to groove to this new effort.
Track Listing
Equilibrium; Vamp To Vibe; Nebula Theory; Cohesion; World Of Blue
Glass; Portal; The Root; The Key; Nu Matrix.
Personnel
Mathew Shipp
Album information
Title: Equilibrium
| Year Released: 2003
| Record Label: Thirsty Ear Recordings
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to
future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by
making a donation today.