Dual CD Release at ShapeShifter Lab: Matthew Shipp & Darius Jones + William Parker, Gerald Cleaver & Craig Taborn.

The dual AUM Fidelity Album Release Party at ShapeShifter Lab on August 9th presented the works of true masters of avant-garde jazz. The first set featured an exhilarating duo: Matthew Shipp on piano and Darius Jones on alto saxophone, whereas the second half of the night saw another terrific trio: drummer Gerald Cleaver, bassist William Parker and pianist Craig Taborn.

For those who follow the jazz avant-garde, there is no need to introduce the musical geniuses that shared their work on stage at the ShapeShifter. And for the rest it might become a pleasant discovery. Matthew Shipp moved to New York in the late 1980s and became a permanent fixture on the avant-garde jazz scene, which at the time centered around East Village as opposed to more uptown straight-ahead jazz scene. Having recorded numerous records as a leader and a sideman, he played with David S. Ware as well as William Parker, Mat Maneri and numerous others.

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Mr. Shipp is a well respected pianist/composer and if one were to attempt to label his music, one could say  “free jazz” and “modern classical”. But labels do not say much and mean different things for different people. Perhaps it’s best to give his work an honest listen and decide for yourself.  Matthew was joined by a young alto saxophonist, Darius Jones, whose 2009 debut album  Man’ish Boy (A Raw & beautiful Thing) won critical acclaim and established him firmly on the NY jazz scene.

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SSL in Brooklyn can easily accommodate a large crowd; yet, it felt tight and packed on Saturday night. It should not come as a surprise though: the music was not just good, it was phenomenal. The audience was in silent awe throughout both sets, myself included. The only other sound you could hear in the room was the muted shutter release as there were a few jazz photographers capturing the magic as it unfolded, careful not to interfere but still hungry to get the shots that pleased them.

 

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The musical journey that the duo invited the audience to venture on was a breathtaking  experience. The piano/saxophone format is not a typical configuration, but they worked amazingly well within this format. The rich texture created by delving into the realm of improvisation and exploration was dark and mysterious while the brooding atmosphere of the set resonated deeply within my mind.  Matthew played with gentle violence, careful dissonance and the moments of percussive delight were accentuated by Jones’ s piercing, brisk sound, and impressive articulation.  The suspense was building up as Jones’s played long notes with skill and precision. The moments of calm and peace made one wonder about where this beautiful and mysteriously dark music came from.  For it went straight to the soul.

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There was a brief intermission before the second trio came on stage led by Gerald Cleaver. Much like the first set, this was fully improvised music commanding the audience’s full attention.Gerald Cleaver slowly eased into the music, setting the pace and painting an intense picture with his brushes.  Towards the end he was almost grinding the sticks into the snare drum, nearly dancing around the drum kit with ease and determination.

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Parker’s masterful approach and joyful presence was unprecedented, and Taborn is a skillful pianist whose light touch creates magic. At times all it took was one finger, one note, played at the right time, with the right power, to reinforce the musical form and push it forward. The frequent use of space and the impeccable timing of the trio made it for an unforgettable experience. As always the case with good music, the only bad thing about it is that eventually it ends. The last note lingers in the air while you yearn for more.

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The Darkseid Recital (Matthew Shipp & Darius Jones) + Love and Ghosts (Farmers by Nature: Gerald Cleaver, William Parker, Craig Taborn) are available on AUM Fidelity for your musical pleasure. Do check out their selection of the finest in avant-garde music and more.

Big thank you to Steven Joerg from AUM Fidelity for the assistance with covering the show. 

 

Anna Yatskevich is Flowers In A Gun’s glamorous jazz & beyond critic! Catch more reviews from her here and follow her on Twitter @jazzaddikt.

1 comment for “Dual CD Release at ShapeShifter Lab: Matthew Shipp & Darius Jones + William Parker, Gerald Cleaver & Craig Taborn.

  1. March 1, 2016 at 4:35 pm

    i’ve been going back to some of shipp’s work lately which i’ve alawys really enjoyed, though some experiments more than others. i look forward to the new album.also, thanks so much for all the great music and commentary/information. i have long enjoyed the site but rarely if ever expressed my appreciation. so, big thanks!

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