Matthew Shipp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Shipp
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Matthew Shipp in 2005.
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 7, 1960 Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Genres | Free jazz, avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, post bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | Thirsty Ear, FMP, No More, hatOLOGY, RogueArt, ESP-Disk, AUM Fidelity |
Matthew Shipp (born December 7, 1960) is an American pianist, composer, and bandleader. He is famous for his work in avant-garde jazz, a style of music that explores new and unusual ideas.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Matthew Shipp grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. His mother was friends with the famous trumpeter Clifford Brown, so music was always around him.
He started playing the piano when he was only five years old. As a kid, he loved jazz music. In high school, he also played in rock bands.
After high school, Shipp went to the University of Delaware for a couple of years. He decided to leave college to focus completely on practicing the piano. He also studied with a teacher named Dennis Sandole, who helped him develop his skills. Later, he studied at the New England Conservatory of Music but left to follow his own musical path.
Career in Music
In 1984, Shipp moved to New York City to start his music career. Before he could make a living from music, he worked at a bookstore. One day, after a disagreement with his boss, he decided to quit and focus only on being a musician.
A Unique Style
Shipp is known for playing free jazz, a style where musicians improvise and create music on the spot. His piano playing is very original. The website AllMusic described his music as having a "unique, instantly recognizable style."
His music is so unique that it has been praised by famous artists like David Bowie and Thurston Moore from the band Sonic Youth. Moore said he often sees the same fans at Shipp's concerts and at shows for experimental artists like Merzbow. This shows how Shipp's music appeals to people with different tastes.
Working with Other Musicians
When Shipp first came to New York, he met bassist William Parker. They became longtime partners in music. Parker invited Shipp to join the quartet of saxophonist David S. Ware.
The David S. Ware Quartet
As part of the David S. Ware Quartet, Shipp became very well-known. The group, which also included Parker, was considered one of the best small jazz bands of its time. They recorded many albums together and were praised for creating a new and beautiful sound in free jazz.
Other Collaborations
Shipp has worked with many other musicians from different genres. He has played with members of the hip-hop group Antipop Consortium and with punk-rock icon Henry Rollins, who released some of Shipp's albums. He has also recorded with many other jazz artists, including Roscoe Mitchell, Ivo Perelman, and Joe Morris.
Leading His Own Bands
Besides playing in other groups, Shipp leads his own bands and records solo piano albums. He has released music on several record labels, including Thirsty Ear Recordings, RogueArt, and ESP-Disk.
His 2011 album, Art of the Improviser, was praised by the Chicago Tribune as "monumental." In 2013, he released a solo piano album called Piano Sutras, which was described as music that people would talk about for decades.
More recently, his trio with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Newman Taylor Baker has released several popular albums. Their 2022 album, World Construct, received a perfect five-star rating from the Financial Times.
Selected Discography
Matthew Shipp has recorded over 100 albums as a leader or co-leader. Here are some of his important works.
As Leader or Co-leader
- Circular Temple (1992) - A trio album that helped establish his style.
- The Flow of X (1997) - An album with his quartet featuring violin.
- Pastoral Composure (2000) - A quartet album known for its calm and thoughtful sound.
- Nu Bop (2002) - An album that mixed jazz with electronic and hip-hop sounds.
- One (2005) - A solo piano album.
- Art of the Improviser (2011) - A double album showing his skill both solo and with a trio.
- Piano Sutras (2013) - A highly praised solo piano record.
- The Conduct of Jazz (2015) - The first album with his trio featuring Michael Bisio and Newman Taylor Baker.
- Sonic Fiction (2018) - A quartet album released on the historic ESP-Disk label.
- World Construct (2022) - A five-star album with his long-running trio.
With the David S. Ware Quartet
- Flight of I (1992)
- Cryptology (1995)
- Wisdom of Uncertainty (1997)
- Go See the World (1998)
- Freedom Suite (2002)
See also
In Spanish: Matthew Shipp para niños
