For more than 20 years Brazilian tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and New York pianist Matthew Shipp have collaborated in a diverse set of projects that have led to more than 30 albums; this first volume of 6 albums brings the two together with frequent collaborator William Parker for a 6 part work, fittingly dedicated to Saturn's largest moon, "Titan".
Label: Leo Records Catalog ID: LEOR794.2 Squidco Product Code: 24503
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2017 Country: UK Packaging: Jewel Case Recorded at Parkwest Studios, in Brooklyn, New York, in October, 2016, by Jim Clouse.
"The passionately ingenious Brazilian tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman enjoys a unique partnership with the brilliantly eclectic pianist Matthew Shipp: it stretches back more than two decades and encompasses more than 30 recordings that document the ever expanding extent of their seemingly mystical connection. Now, in their most ambitious project to date, Perelman and Shipp present The Art Of Perelman-Shipp, a series of seven discs (released simultaneously), all centered around the core of their collaborative formats - the sax-piano duo that constitutes a binary star system all its own.
These artistic soulmates engage in a musical communication that calls to mind the greatest partnerships in improvised music: Parker and Gillespie, Brubeck and Desmond, Coltrane and Tyner. As Neil Tesser, who annotated all seven discs, writes: "At this juncture, and especially in the duo format, [Perelman and Shipp] each can anticipate the other's responses. A connection exists that some would call telepathy - or even clairvoyance. Not only do they finish each other's sentences; they also start them." But not even Coltrane and Tyner approached each performance in the way of Perelman and Shipp, who walk into the studio without any preconceived plan - no written theme, no harmonic schemes, no outline of the events that will take place - and simply start to play, allowing the music to go where it will and trusting their shared history to guide the proceedings.
All CDs are named after the planet Saturn's moons and on the front covers one can see fantastic Ivo Perelman's paintings which turn the whole thing into a work of art and instant collector's item."-Leo Records
"It's interesting that Volume 1 begins with Shipp's old bandmate from David S. Ware's quartet, bassist William Parker - because (I'm jumping ahead here) most of these groups center around Perelman & Shipp as a duo. In this trio, Shipp often splits alliances between Perelman & Parker. On Part 2, for example, Shipp & Parker hang stars in the sky while Perelman shoots at them from the moon. (Hey, I saw it.) Soon after, the core duo of Perelman-Shipp locks down, leaving Parker to play against them as a solidified unit.
When all three players take equal part in the exploration it's especially thrilling. On Part 4, they successfully attempt to compose a Brecht-by-way-of-Lester-Young ballad on the fly. Naturally, it ends as something else entirely - but as something unique and complete as a whole. Part 5 also begins with all three musicians functioning as a creative trio, playing in a style I'd call more "conventionally free" as opposed to the more painterly pieces that precede it. Shipp & Parker get an extended spot together, before Perelman joins in again and switches the dynamic back to Perelman-Shipp with solid support from Parker.
Part 6 is all over the map. It opens with Perelman playing mournful vibrato notes almost to the point of parody, with Parker's arco bowing adding to the pathos. Shipp's support, naturally, is melodic and sedate. By the five-minute mark, the trio has joined together as one playing a free jazz rembetika of immediate origin. Shortly after this, Parker is leading with a bop-era bass line, sparking Shipp to respond with an angular avant riff, over which Perelman invokes the spirit of '70s Arista-era Braxton. There are also hints of the blues, marches (Braxton again), and Perelman sounding positively soulful during some amazing runs. I'm not sure how it holds together as a single piece, but it's a wild ride."-Tom Burris, The Free Jazz Collective