Michael Bisio/Matthew Shipp: The Flow of Everything

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 six years.

The opener, "Flow," is a brilliant nine-plus minute demonstration of these artists' ability to execute the unexpected. In tandem and apart Bisio and Shipp create a tableau of quiet thunder, Duke Ellington, and Art Tatum, rolled into an avant-garde collage. Bisio completely alters the mood with his arco introduction to "Bow of Everyone." With back-and-forth distortion, he sets up a gently melodic entrance for Shipp, leading down a darkly prosaic path.

The midsection of The Flow of Everything consists of pieces laden with fresh peculiarities and inquisitive musical ideas. "Of Now," "Of Everything" and "Pockets" each incorporate melodic channels into turbulent waters and "Go Flow" plays like an asymmetrical lullaby. The title track is the most overtly cryptic improvisation on the album but the concluding "Panel" restores tranquility before it draws to a close.

Shipp's mastery of the contrasting poles of density and fragility, and Bisio's evasion of pyrotechnics, render free improvisation more accessible. The challenge, and the pleasure, of listening to The Flow of Everything, is that one cannot be certain how things will play out between Bisio and Shipp. Even when sharing a joint vision, there are times when the listener can find it difficult to decipher the stealthy language of the duo. That's all to the good as this ecstatic music benefits from blurring the line between thought and spontaneous performance; freeing the listener from the grip of relevance. The Flow of Everything is an absorbing album, animated, exciting, and completely different.