Solo piano -- a dark, stormy atmosphere, contemplative. Shipp’s first solo piano in some time, and miles away from his ‘90s album “Symbol Systems.” Both CDs share a cerebral classical/jazz tone, but "Symbol" was in spiky avant-garde territory, while this one's closer to a straight feel.

These short pieces are frequently slow and/or unadventurous, although they pack more than a few good moments. Great for stormy winter atmosphere but gets dull in large doses – contrast with Shipp’s fiery playing on old David S. Ware CDs. Maybe I'm just being shallow, as his slower music lacks that crowd-thrilling surface ... After all, Shipp wouldn't want to replay "Symbol Systems" over and over forever, and it's certainly his right to work on new directions. Still, I'm hoping that direction, represented by his last several Thirsty Ear CDs, finds more inspiration.

1- Midtempo. Tough, dark chords tossed like stones, w/pulsing bass
2- Fast-raindrop trickles, then stormy chords
3- Chipper blues/jazz riff
4- Slow/spacious, relatively
5- Slowish pulse. Picks up later; gets dramatic at the end
6- Tangly jazz; thick knots of low notes
7- Melodic dark-night flow
8- Loungy. Quiet start, then pounding.
9- Tangly fast scrawl!
10- Midtempo cascade of notes
11- Dirge
12- Slow riff; wandering jazz. Lingering/seeking ending