MATTHEW SHIPP

MATTHEW SHIPP
STRING TRIO:

EXPANSION, POWER, RELEASE (2001)
320 KBPS

There is a hauntingly beautiful theme that runs through the trio album of Matthew Shipp, Mat Maneri, and William Parker. Opting to expose his dense piano musings solely against the airy violin strings of Maneri and the probing bass lines of Parker, Shipp unfolds a series of 14 musical scenarios having weighty construction but sufficient buoyancy to permit them to take flight and fly. The songs are shells or mini-movements that are developed quickly by the trio. Singly or collectively, the artists express an improvised moment and move on to the next phase. Although it is not a suite, there typically is a thread of consistency to tie each selection to the previous and next one.
The fiery constitution of Shipp prevails in this unique instrumental context. His solemn style presents an engaging contrast to the higher tones leaping out of Maneri's violin. Shipp places his identifiable stamp on each selection, playing extensively as he does in the lower register. Parker slides his well-crafted bass lines beneath and Maneri ignites his violin above Shipp's densely developed phrases, and the three produce a chamber/jazz symphony of unbridled sound bound loosely by the guideposts of the compositions.
Several of the movements are done in duet. Maneri and Parker spar energetically on one phase, Shipp and Parker exchange innovative ideas at another turn, and Shipp and Maneri intertwine extensively on other occasions. Emotional solo sprints also emerge in which their complex improvisational minds have free rein, but the program is foremost a collective project where the three artists interpret and reassess in serious fashion the compositions of Shipp.
Shipp has been involved in many diverse musical projects of late where he shows compositional and improvisational talent that seems to be boundless. In each context, he emerges as an innovator capable of producing music that is startlingly new and fresh. He approaches the creative process from multiple angles and always is able to hone in on the substantive elements that define musical art. His effort here with Maneri and Parker is another example of this innate ability.

1. Organs
2. Expansion
3. Waltz
4. Combinational Entity
5. Speech of Form
6. Environment
7. Weave Now a Web Rooted
8. Connection
9. Pulse Form
10. Power
11. Functional For
12. Reflex
13. Release
14. One More