| Equilibrium | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2003 | |||
| Recorded | July 2002 | |||
| Studio | Sorcerer Sound, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 41:07 | |||
| Label | Thirsty Ear | |||
| Producer | Matthew Shipp | |||
| Matthew Shipp, FLAM chronology | ||||
| ||||
Equilibrium is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp recorded in 2002 and released on Thirsty Ear. According to Shipp, this fourth Blue Series record is a synthesis of what he learned from all their other albums in the series. He continues exploring beat elements with modern jazz. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |   [2] |
| Allmusic | [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz |  [4] |
In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek states "Shipp, whose restless vision is never clouded by grandiosity or pretense, has become the most important pianist on the scene today. Equilibrium is soul music for the mind." [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that "FLAM never seems fully integrated into music which retains its power through old-fashioned jazz staples such as improvisational interplay and rhythmical momentum." [4]
The Pitchfork review by Chris Dahlen claims "With Equilibrium, Shipp has created a puzzle box, full of nuanced performances and cryptic details. It's not his most passionate work, but it's the closest to perfect, so precisely constructed that every note invites attention." [5]
In his review for JazzTimes , Stuart Nicholsonn states "Part of a work in progress, Equilibrium moves beyond the so-called 'jazz tradition' to the real jazz tradition, where imagination has free reign[ sic ] and ideas evolve and develop their own momentum, inspired by the present and future as much (or more) than by the past." [6]
Sonic Explorations is the debut album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp and alto saxophonist Rob Brown, originally issued on LP in 1988 on Cadence Jazz.
Crypto logy is an album by American jazz saxophonist David S. Ware recorded in 1994 and released on Homestead.
Symbol Systems is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp which was recorded in 1995 and became the first release on No More, a label founded by producer Alan Schneider. It was the first solo piano released by Shipp but was recorded five months after Before the World, a live performance which was released later.
2-Z is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp with AACM saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, which was recorded in 1995 and released on the 2.13.61 label. Shipp played previously with Mitchell's Note Factory on the album This Dance Is for Steve McCall, but 2-Z represents their first collaboration with Shipp as a leader.
The Flow of X is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp which was recorded in 1995 and released on the 2.13.61 label. It features a quartet with violinist Mat Maneri, bassist William Parker and drummer Whit Dickey, the same lineup as the previous album Critical Mass. The liner notes include a piece by Shipp comparing boxing and jazz.
Before the World is an album by jazz pianist Matthew Shipp which was recorded live in 1995 and released on the FMP label. This was his first recorded solo album, although Symbol Systems was released before.
Blink of an Eye is an album by American jazz saxophonist Rob Brown which was recorded live in 1996 and released on No More, the label founded by producer Alan Schneider. The album features a duo performance with pianist Matthew Shipp nearly a decade after they played together on their debut recording, Sonic Explorations. They reunited in June 1996 as part of the Vision Festival and Brown asked Shipp to share his evening at Roulette. This is the first documented recording of Rob playing flute.
Thesis is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp featuring a duo with guitarist Joe Morris, which was recorded in 1997 and released on the Swiss hatOLOGY label. Shipp played previously with the Joe Morris Ensemble on the album Elsewhere, but Thesis represents their first collaboration with Shipp as a leader.
The Multiplication Table is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp which was recorded in 1997 and released on the Swiss hatOLOGY label.
Strata is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp which was recorded in 1997 and released on the Swiss hatOLOGY label.
Time Is of the Essence Is Beyond Time is the third album by free jazz collective quartet Other Dimensions In Music, composed of trumpeter Roy Campbell, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter, bassist William Parker and drummer Rashid Bakr. For this special quintet, recorded live in 1997 and released on the AUM Fidelity label, they are joined by pianist Matthew Shipp.
New Orbit is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp recorded in 2000 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series. Shipp leads a quartet with trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald Cleaver.
Pastoral Composure is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, recorded in 2000 and released on Thirsty Ear. It was the first installment of the Blue Series, a collection of releases curated by Shipp. He leads a quartet with trumpeter Roy Campbell, bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald Cleaver. The album includes a version of Duke Ellington composition "Prelude to a Kiss" and a rendition of the French traditional song "Frère Jacques".
Gravitational Systems is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp featuring a duo with violinist Mat Maneri, which was recorded in 1998 and released on the Swiss hatOLOGY label. Shipp played previously with Maneri on the albums Critical Mass, The Flow of X and By the Law of Music, but this was their first duo performance. The recording includes a rendition of the English traditional song "Greensleeves" and a version of John Coltrane's classic "Naima".
Piano Vortex is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp recorded in 2007 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series. He leads a traditional acoustic piano trio with Joe Morris on bass and Whit Dickey on drums.
Harmonic Disorder is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp recorded in 2008 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series. It was the second recording by the trio with Joe Morris on bass and Whit Dickey on drums, following Piano Vortex. The album includes two jazz standards: "There Will Never Be Another You" and "Someday My Prince Will Come".
One is a solo album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, which was recorded in 2005 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series.
Piano Sutras is a solo album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, which was recorded in 2013 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series.
4D is a solo album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, which was recorded in 2009 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series.
Piano Song is an album by the Matthew Shipp Trio, led by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, recorded in 2016 and released on Thirsty Ear's Blue Series. It was the second recording by his trio with Michael Bisio on bass and Newman Taylor Baker on drums.
