AWESOME! // Daniel Carter, William Parker, Matthew Shipp - Seraphic Light // Composer Reaction
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on Seraphic Light Pt 1
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0:00 Intro
02:35 Reaction
24:42 Initial Impression
29:55 Analysis - Wild Tonality
31:44 Analysis - Reminds Me of Microtonality
34:30 Analysis - Flexible Versatility
42:49 Analysis - Masters of Improv
49:44 Analysis - Sonic Seraphim
55:18 Outro
#reaction #danielcarter #williamparker #matthewshipp #freejazz
I am a bit sleep deprived, and have been handling a lot of problems this week (although somehow I am largely resolving them all), so this initial comment is going to probably be a little more brief than it would be otherwise. [But naturally it's too long after all.] Obviously I am really pleased that you enjoyed this so much. I think one point you made is similar to what I was trying to express here and there previously, that there is free/avant-garde jazz out there that is nevertheless accessible in a certain way. A lot of what Shipp records falls into that category for me.
Carter, Parker, and Shipp had recorded together previously, and Shipp and Parker have played together in many different groupings. From what I have read, Parker primarily played with Cecil Taylor in the 80's. And all three of them have the long record of performance that is typical of active jazz musicians. I actually like Carter's more relatively more "inside" playing to some of the more skronk-oriented saxophonists, etc. that Shipp has collaborated with. For instance, as much as I love Shipp's sound, I just stay away from his collaborations with Ivo Perelman. There must be something there is Shipp has recorded dozens of albums with him, but I can't connect with his playing.
I think the question of how improvised is improvised, is a tricky one. Of the three musicians here, I am most familiar with Shipp, and he definitely has certain things that are almost like motifs that recur in his music (improvised and composed). I think for musicians like these, it is partly a matter of building a personal vocabulary, and then using that vocabulary in different ways, with some maybe entirely new things thrown in now and then. I haven't always liked the "vocabulary" metaphor applied to music, but in Shipp's case, it seems an apt way to describe what is distinctive about his playing. Some of what he does reminds me harmonically of modern classical music, but somehow given a warmer, more approachable reworking. For what it's worth, I don't think he experiments with unusual tunings. I can't remember any discussions of that. I think he just wrenches unusual groups of sound from pianos in standard tuning. It's interesting to me that it reminds you of microtonal music though, considering how much of that I like (but mostly from the east where it's just normal).
Seraphic Light 3 actually does stand on its own--there is a break with audience applause before it--but the first part his my favorite "movement."
As far as I can discern, this is the first reaction video for any of these musicians, so it will be interesting to see what kind of response it gets. I don't know to what extent people who listen to this type of music would be interested in reaction videos. I am guessing most wouldn't be, but I might not be the only exception.
And this comment is growing longer, of course. You might be interested to know that Shipp has worked with hip-hop producers, and experimented with electronics. I kind of see that as a stage in his development. Also, he gives really good interviews generally, sometimes funny ones in which his plays provocateur, but generally thoughtful ones.
He is also someone who, to my mind had continued to refine his sound over the years.
I also felt it sounded like microtonal. That's a fantastic feat to make this impression on the standard, properly tuned piano. And it's more approachable and emotive than many other things out there for sure. I still prefer shorter tunes - such long tracks wear me down too much and I stop listening intently enough around 10 minutes in or so. I'm too casual for this :(
I'm certainly going to listen to the hip-hip collaboration; any recommendations? The closest thing I ever heard that comes to my mind is Chris Dave Trio and it's amazing
@@shryggur Equilibrium, from 2003, alternates between tracks with hip-hop beats, and more diffuse, ambient tracks, sometimes with electronics. Well, I guess I shouldn't say hip-hop beats. They aren't programmed beats, but the drummer sticks to more of a hip-hop feel, which maybe is ultimately just from funk, but somehow it sounds more hip-hop than funk (even if it is doing the live equivalent of playing funk breakdown samples?). But Shipp also collaborated with Anti-Pop Consortium on an album. I don't even remember what that one sounds like at this point, which means it probably has more rapping on it than I want to deal with. Anyway, Shipp's playing on Equilibrium is not quite as adventurous or distinctive as what you hear in Seraphic Light, but it's a good album that stands on its own.
His solo piano recordings tend to feature tracks of moderate length. Even his trio albums tracks are often on the shorter side, although sometimes they get lengthier. His trio put out a new album this year which I think is good and comparatively accessible. The longest track is just under twelve minutes long, but some are under five minutes.
Chris Dave I am unfamiliar with. I will check him out.
To start, thanks so much for the recommendation and I'm quite glad you changed your mind from your previous pick. I don't know much about X but I doubt it would have been as mind opening as this was. I agree with shryggur that the "microtonal sounds on a standard tuned piano" is a wild feat that I don't understand but enjoyed quite a bit. It's cool to hear that Shipp continues to refine his sound and doesn't simply lean on his already impressive skill. Expanding his skills into the realm of hip hop and electronics sounds both sounds neat and is a great idea for trying out new sounds.
@@CriticalReactionsI am glad it was a good experience for you. I enjoyed the video.
This is definitely more out of the ordinary than X, but honestly, the first three X albums are gold, and since you like punk, I think you would enjoy them. Easily one of my favorite rock bands--period. Their music has a rockabilly component which I didn't even recognize back when I was in high school, but now it's obvious, and yet the total package is definitely punk. Most of the early X songs have a lot of forward momentum which in a way that reminds me of early Beatles songs, but without sounding like the Beatles. I remember Dylan complaining that rock had last the "roll," and X manages to not just be punk rock, but punk rock and roll.
I bet Matthew Shipp likes X! Henry Rollins actually put out some of Shipp's music, so he has some first-hand connection to punk. To bring it around full-circle. And I know he likes some alternative rock stuff, etc.
@@CriticalReactions Remember, you could always add the new Matthew Shipp Trio album to your personal listening list. It's good, and more accessible than some of his trio albums. Actually, it's my favorite album so far this year, but this isn't a great year for me, for albums, and I tend to like any solo Shipp or Shipp-led projects to at least some degree. Almost all of those end of making it on my personal year end list. I still tend to prefer solo Shipp more though. If you were to literally just give the first track on the new album 30 seconds, I think you would be drawn in!
12:56 shepard tone? 👀
I don't know the technical stuff, unfortunately, but I often imagine Shipp's piano lines as arcing upward somehow.
Yup! That's it.
You know what makes me laugh? There are still music writers and critics who take Shipp seriously when he talks about ending his career, or not putting out any more solo albums, or not putting out any more trio albums. I think he has been saying these things for a couple decades now, and I think it's just a long-term prank he is running. I don't know if it's just for fun or if it's partly a marketing strategy ("oh, this is Matthew Shipp's last solo album! I better write about it"). Anyway who has followed him even a little bit knows he has been saying these things for a while. I think he has a trickster side that he can't resist playing to.
If you see anything about Shipp no longer recording this or that, or performing in this or that configuration, don't believe it until you see it happen long term!