Matthew Shipp, the studiously disruptive free-jazz pianist from Delaware, has hovered in and out of accessibility since the early 1990s. In the past he has followed a good many wayward paths, but lately he has also hooked his distinctive ruminations to the grooves of the dancefloor.
This set is the pure distillation of Shipp, however: a solo acoustic piano album of a dozen originals. It's much better than the 2001 solo album Songs, balancing the pianist's stern, blockish manner of assembling thematic materials and doggedly dissecting them with some surprisingly free-flowing episodes. Some pieces are minimal variations on chord-cycles, but some have a songlike bounce.
Gamma Ray is a rugged swinger over a walking bassline; Electro Magnetism is like slower Cecil Taylor; and there are several flintily haunting reflective pieces. The piano's sound quality sets the teeth a little on edge - but the music is strong, independent and very varied. - John Fordham
Tracks
01. Arc
02. Patmos
03. Gamma Ray
04. Milky Way
05. Blue In Orion
06. Electro Magnetism
07. The Encounter
08. The Rose Is A Rose
09. IEOU
10. Abyss Code
11. Zero
12. Module
MATTHEW SHIPP piano
All music composed by Matthew Shipp
Recorded on August 18, 2005 at Leon Lee Dorsey Studios, New York City
Thirsty Ear Recordings, Inc. Thirsty Ear - THI57166