faine books
  • Home
  • About
  • Music Books
    • Serendipity Doo-Dah #1
    • Serendipity Doo-Dah #2
    • Ellington at the White House
    • The Best Gig in Town
  • Short Stories
    • Prisoner Chaser
    • Taxi Driver
  • Blog
  • Contact

“To Duke” from Matthew Shipp

2/9/2017

0 Comments

 
Matthew Shipp Album
LISTEN TO BLOGCAST
My quick search reveals 37 instrumental album tributes to Duke Ellington, 12 by pianists—from Billy Byers to Oscar Peterson to Abdullah Ibrahim to Tommy Flanagan to Monty Alexander, to the most recent by Matthew Shipp.

Shipp with trio-mates Michael Basio (bass) and Whit Dickey (drums) pay homage to the maestro by offering four original dedications and seven familiar classics: “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Satin Doll,” “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good,” “Take the A-Train,” “Mood Indigo,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” and “Solitude.” 
For the most part, Shipp eschews the usual approach to these standards—theme, improv, theme—in favor of his own idiosyncratic approach where theme and improv seem to simultaneously coexist in space and time. 

Shipp has a somewhat difficult-to-categorize playing style all his own, at least for me, so I won’t try, except to say others have hung a free jazz label on it, reminding them of Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill or Thelonious Monk, or Vejay Iyer at times. Nonetheless, he has recorded a credible album (with some reservations) dedicated to the music of one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. 

Personally, and I hate writing this, I wish Shipp had dropped the originals and given us his take on other ducal masterpieces and, more importantly, recorded them solo (as he in fact did with “Prelude”), asking his rhythm mates to take the day off. The busy, bass/drum chatterbox underneath Shipp’s keyboard explorations interfered with my listening at times.

In general, tempos are taken a mite faster than the originals, and the two “Mood” pieces—“Sentimental” and “Indigo”—are more “red” than “blue.” 

“A-Train” and “Doll” are both up and at times manage to swing. The pianist’s treatment of “Doll” should bring a smile to most faces; the familiar melody is always recognizable, though not always fully stated: imagine the “Doll” lyrics with several syllables left out: “Out  . . . in’ / My Sa . . . Doll.” 

Further imagine this head-wagging toe-tapper being played by a Bavarian marching band, or some such. That’s how it ends. I would venture Duke, from his lofty perch on high, would be chuckling and nodding, especially at Shipp’s somewhat bombastic use of the lower 88. As would McCoy Tyner. As would Cecil Taylor.

Mr. Shipp’s solo rendition of “Prelude” joins the many other outstanding keyboard tributes to Duke’s lovely ballad.

Recommended for its engaging interpretations of the classics, To Duke bears repeated play for best appreciation. Should the avant pianist decide to record a follow-up album of nothing but Ellington tunes (there are numerous others to choose from) without accompaniment, then sign me up.
LISTEN TO BLOGCAST
0 Comments
    Picture
    Picture

    BUY NOW

    Picture

    BUY NOW


    EMAIL SIGNUP
    Receive news of upcoming blogs and events.


    Most Popular

    Music Blogs 2015–2023
    Business Advice from Miles Davis
    Miles and Me at the Modern Jazz Club

    Categories

    All
    Album Review
    Book Review
    Ellington
    Film Review
    Guest Post
    Jazz Albums
    Jazz History
    Jazz Musicians
    Music History
    Musicians
    Nixon
    Top 10 Jazz Albums

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    RSS Feed


FAINE BOOKS

Home  About  Books  Stories  Blog  Contact

Copyright © 2023 Edward Faine. All Rights Reserved.
Proudly powered by Weebly

BACK TO TOP

© 2021 FaineBooks

© DivTag Templates Ltd | All Rights Reserved