Harmony and Abyss

Harmony and Abyss Artist: Matthew Shipp
Label: Thirsty Ear
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 700435715226
EAN: 0700435715226
ASIN: B0002VEOOK


Release Date: 2004-09-28

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Related | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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Tracks:

  1. Ion
  2. New ID
  3. 3 in 1
  4. Virgin Complex
  5. Galaxy 105
  6. String Theory
  7. Blood 2 The Brain
  8. Invisible Light
  9. Amino Acid
  10. Abyss

Similar Items:

  1. Equilibrium
  2. One
  3. Matthew Shipp's New Orbit
  4. The Good and Evil Sessions
  5. Point of Departure

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Electro-acoustic free-jazz trio at it's finest.......2004-09-28

Avant garde jazz pianist Matthew Shipp continues down the path of electro-acoustic jazz with "Harmony and Abyss." Curator of Thirsty Ear's experimental jazz program, The Blue Series, Shipp is one of the series' leading proponents of combining electronica and post modern beat technology with the classic acoustic jazz tradition.

"Harmony and Abyss" is perhaps his most successful attempt at combining the two seemingly disparate styles yet. His two previous albums from 2002, "Nu Bop" and "Equilibrium" found Shipp and his rhythm section accompanied by guest soloists, this time the core trio is joined only by producer FLAM. The results are more organic and subtle than any Shipp has delivered before. A few tracks are devoid of any electronic tinkering, while some are dominated by sampling technology and studio manipulation. Cuts like "3 in 1" and "Galaxy 105" are pure acoustic piano trio improvisations and wouldn't sound out of place on an old 1960's Blue Note record in the vein of say Andrew Hill or Cecil Taylor. Whereas tracks like "String Theory" and "Abyss" are so electronically augmented and manipulated, that one wouldn't initially think they were listening to a "jazz" album at all, but perhaps instead to a new electronica disc. It's on a more definitive cut like "Blood 2 The Brain" where the electro-acoustic elements merge seamlessly to become a new entity. Driving drum n' bass rhythms contrast with and complement the acoustic piano trio in new and invigorating ways. The predominantly dark introspective vibe is maintained across the whole of the record however, despite the variations in electronic and acoustic sound.

Even more focused and consistent than his previous efforts in the genre, "Harmony and Abyss" sets a high water mark for like-minded jazz musicians to aspire to.

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  2. Plays the Standards ~ Ray Anthony
  3. Music from Everglades National Park ~ Checkfield
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  5. Yonder Tree ~ Gino Vannelli
  6. Island Grooves: Jamboree & Ivory and Steel ~ Monty Alexander
  7. After Hours ~ Charlie Christian, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk
  8. The Brunt ~ Either, Orchestra
  9. Rumba Buhaina - the Music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers ~ Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band
  10. Open Land ~ John Abercrombie

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