Saturday, April 23, 2016

Matthew Shipp's Equilibrium


Equilibrium is all over the place. But that's a good thing, in this case. Shipp's album combines his piano, William Parker's bass, Khan Jamal's vibes, synthesizers and effects from FLAM, and Gerald Cleaver on drums for a unique sonic journey, exploring everything from funk, acid jazz-type stylings to more abstract and somber pieces. "The Root" and "The World of Blue Grass" are perhaps my highlights from this rather short album, but the entirety is worth a listen. Despite FLAM's presence, it does not sound too out of place when one thinks of jazz or Shipp's unique style. In addition, one detects other influences on Shipp's style here, such as Tyner and Andrew Hill. Plus, anytime William Parker is playing funkier bass lines is always okay. 

No comments:

Post a Comment