Search - Matthew Shipp, Roscoe Mitchell :: 2-Z

A Good Duo Session

Michael G. Mcneill | Rochester, NY United States | 05/28/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Roscoe Mitchell continues to be an astounding post-Coltrane sax player on this album with pianist Matthew Shipp. Some of the improvisations often remind me of Xenakis's more pointilistic sound mass compositions. Both musicians create swirling, dense textures which emerge organically from the sum total of their lines. Very nice and thick. On other tracks, there is a more subdued feel and a thinner texture, reminiscent of Webern. Quiet and slow done very nicely. Mr. Mitchell seems to have the upper hand on the younger Mr. Shipp in terms of technique. While Mr. Shipp can create quick lines and dense textures, I think he could stand to alter his tone color and dynamic level more often than he does. In the end, though, this doesn't hurt this album too much."