Matthew Shipp Trio - To Duke (2015)

With Matthew Shipp, piano; Michael Bisio, bass; Newman Taylor Baker, drums

Fascinating things happen when you combine Duke Ellington’s compositions with Matthew Shipp’s approach to the piano trio. While Shipp and his trio show great knowledge of Ellington’s work, they are not afraid to change its original intent to fit their own; in an approach atypical to an Ellington tribute, reverence is not demonstrated though purism or overt tradition. Shipp’s expansive adaptations–dense, emotional, and full of quotes and allusions–successfully walk the fine line of rewarding those familiar with Ellington’s music, while in no way requiring familiarity to appreciate the thought-provoking journeys they create. Much like Ellington, Shipp draws from the world of classical music, leaning towards a modern dissonance that ranges from playful to aggressive. In both cases, the ensuing moments of clarity and familiarity are all the more cathartic thanks to this contrast. Michael Bisio’s almost-telepathic ability to both follow and propel Shipp’s challenging improvisations speaks to their extensive joint experience.