Songs (Matthew Shipp album)

Songs
Studio album by
Matthew Shipp
Released2002
RecordedNovember 18, 2001
StudioThe Studio, New York City
GenreJazz
Length46:57
LabelSplasc(H)
ProducerMatthew Shipp, Alan Schneider
Matthew Shipp chronology
New Orbit
(2001) 		Songs
(2002) 		Nu Bop
(2002)

Songs is a solo album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp performing popular standards and spirituals, which was recorded in 2001 and released on the Italian Splasc(H) label. Its "We Free Kings" track is a Roland Kirk composition based on the Christmas carol "We Three Kings".

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[1]
Allmusic[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[3]

In his review for AllMusic, Steve Loewy states "The interpretations are original, disturbing at times, but also uplifting and lyrical. The pianist follows a strategy of laying down a melody and slowly deconstructing the piece, but what is remarkable is the way in which he never lets go of the underlying song even at the most extreme moments."[2]

Track listing

  1. "We Free Kings" (John Henry Hopkins, Jr.) – 4:16
  2. "There Will Never Be Another You" (Harry Warren / Mack Gordon) – 5:42
  3. "Almighty Fortress Is Our God" (Martin Luther) – 5:01
  4. "Con Alma" (Dizzy Gillespie) – 8:16
  5. "Angel Eyes" (Matt Dennis / Earl Brent)– 5:35
  6. "On Green Dolphin Street" (Bronislav Kaper / Ned Washington) – 3:53
  7. "Bags' Groove" (Milt Jackson) – 3:25
  8. "Yesterdays" (Jerome Kern / Otto Harbach) – 5:32
  9. "East Broadway Run Down" (Sonny Rollins) – 5:17

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Brackett, Nathan (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. The Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside. pp. 732. ISBN 0743201698.
  2. ^ a b Loewy, Steve. Matthew Shipp – Songs: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  3. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1294. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.