Matthew Shipp
Art of the Improviser
Thirsty Ear : 2011
Art of the Improviser
Thirsty Ear : 2011
MS, piano.
Our mini-festival around pianist and composer Matthew Shipp continues with a preview of his upcoming albumArt of the Improviser. This wonderful double-disc set marks Shipp’s 50th birthday and serves as a sort of career summation. Comprised of two live discs — one with a new acoustic trio and another solo — it features such early compositions as “Circular Temple,” alongside favorite standards including “Take the A Train,” and newer compositions like “4D.”
Shipp has released a prodigious number of albums in a remarkable variety of contexts. It can be daunting to keep up with him. For those who are new to his music or haven’t checked in for a while, Art of the Improviserpromises to be a revelation. It’s both a good introduction and an ideal place to reconnect with his work. Over the past decade, Shipp’s music has undergone a quiet and profound metamorphosis — boldly incorporating elements of groove, repetition, and melody in surprising new configurations.
track attributes. “Wholetone” is a striking new composition that’s daring in its use of insistent repetition, deceptively simple riffs, almost classical textures, and sly dissonance. The opening bass vamp grounds the tune and demands attention, while the rest of the performance deploys various strategies to wonderfully complicate the tune’s dramatic refrain. Forgive the abrupt ending — on the disc, it segues directly into the next track.
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