Equilibrium

Shipp's new focus has been on a combination of big piano chords with backing rhythms drawn from hip-hop and electronica. It comes out with a dark and stormy sound, with solid beats ... admittedly repetitious but with a strong jazz-piano lead.

This is his second or third (?) album playing with the concept, and I don't think he's nailed it 100% yet, although this effort comes closest to the mark. Individual tracks are excellent, but his ideas aren't rich enough to fill the whole album.

Khan Jamal on vibes lends a nice coolness to the tracks.

1- Slow and serious, a contemplative Keith-Jarrett place
2*- Big stormy beats, dark piano riff
3- Slow, groany sounds
4*- Midtempo, with drum-machine-sounding drums. Most energetic track on here
5- Fluid lounge-piano sound with twinge of menace
6- One minute of big bop chording. Nice but pointless.
7*- Strong beat, laid-back feel
8*- Cool jazz walk
9- Darkly ambient