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Matthew Shipp: Not Bound
ByEach of the five tracks offers unique and exciting lyricism. "Soul Secrets" begins with a cool piano and flute intro that leads to a rumble. Bisio is quite active on the bass, even under the unhurried opening pace. Carter's flute and Shipp's piano play off each other while Bisio busily works over his instrument. Suddenly the music jets forward. Dickey rotates across the drum set while Shipp provides syncopated accents beneath Carter's flowing melodies.
"Is" starts with Bisio's walking bass and Dickey's march-like accompaniment and then migrates into the theme. Carter's trumpet paves the way with long notes that are embellished by Shipp's flourishes.
The title cut, "Not Bound" begins with Carter's peaceful and soulful abstract sax solo. Then the music builds to a peak. Dickey's brush work provides contrast with Bisio's base finger-wheeling. Shipp's flicks and flacks generate rhythmic impulses. The compositions jagged edges are emphasized by Dickey's explosive kicks.
Dickey launches the longest track of the album, "Totality," with a polyrhythmic drum solo that incorporates silent gaps between the drumming. Carter offers an arc of legato lyricism on both tenor and soprano sax. Shipp responds to Carter's linesthere's a back and forth between the two musicians. The group stretches out over Bisio's challenging up and down full throttle bass ruminations. Then, ever so subtly, the song migrates into an abstract bluesy swing. Bisio walks the bass line below it all and Shipp and Dickey slap a common refrain. At the 9:34 mark, Carter holds a legato note and Shipp echoes it on the piano. Then Bisio takes over with his free form bassrumbling up and down the instrument's neck. The song concludes with strong group improvisation that roars like the waterfalls at Iguazu.
The album concludes with "This Coda." Shipp and Carter, this time on clarinet, open with a bluesy dreamy motif. About halfway through the track, Bisio and Dickey join in. The music begins to soar, gliding through mountain gorges and slipping past peaks. Shipp's playing echoes McCoy Tyner's rumbling style.
One can only hope that this is just the beginning for this quartet. All four gifted musicians provide exhilarating music. They listen carefully to each other and follow or lead as necessary. And the music? Dense. Complex. Lyrical. Harmonic. Challenging but never dominating.
Over the years, Matthew Shipp has remained true to his vision. No compromises. Just top-notch compositions that feature strong improvisational expeditions. Not Bound is an exemplary example.
Track Listing
Soul Secrets; Is; Not Bound; Totality; This Coda.
Personnel
Matthew Shipp
pianoMatthew Shipp: piano; Daniel Carter: flute, trumpet, tenor & soprano saxophones, clarinet; Michael Bisio: double bass; Whit Dickey: drums.
Album information
Title: Not Bound | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: For Tune
Comments
Tags
Matthew Shipp
CD/LP/Track Review
Don Phipps
Not Bound
For Tune
Michael Bisio
Walt Dickey
Steve Carter
McCoy Tyner