Matthew Shipp

Talkhouse Contributing Writer Matthew Shipp is a pianist and composer. You can visit his website here.

Bio

Matthew Shipp (born December 7, 1960) is an American free jazz pianist. Shipp has been very active in the 1990s, appearing on dozens of albums as a leader, sideman or producer. His dense, percussive style was often compared to Cecil Taylor's, though in recent years Taylor's influence is less pronounced. Shipp was raised in Wilmington, Delaware and began playing piano at six years old. He was strongly attracted to jazz, but also played in rock music groups while in high school. Shipp attended the University of Delaware for one year, then the New England Conservatory of Music. Shipp has long been a member of saxophonist David S. Ware's quartet. He has recorded or performed with many musicians, including William Parker, DJ Spooky, Joe Morris, Daniel Carter, Roscoe Mitchell, Mat Maneri and El-P. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Talks

Matthew Shipp Talks Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette’s Somewhere

By Matthew Shipp | April 23, 2015

Matthew Shipp Talks Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette’s Somewhere

I have struggled long and hard to evaluate the position that Keith Jarrett's music occupies in the hierarchy of the jazz industry. I have always...

Matthew Shipp Talks Herbie Hancock’s Memoir Possibilities, and Not Dying for Your Art

By Matthew Shipp | January 24, 2015

Matthew Shipp Talks Herbie Hancock’s Memoir Possibilities, and Not Dying for Your Art

The tale of a tech geek with a thirst for fame, Herbie Hancock's new autobiography "might shed some light on why jazz is so fucked up nowadays."

Matthew Shipp Talks Harvey Mason’s Chameleon

By Matthew Shipp | May 21, 2014

Matthew Shipp Talks Harvey Mason’s Chameleon

Wow, this is a nice one. There are so many qualities that make Harvey Mason’s Chameleon a successful album, that it is hard to find a place...

Matthew Shipp Talks Chick Corea’s The Vigil

By Matthew Shipp | October 25, 2013

Matthew Shipp Talks Chick Corea’s The Vigil

Wow. The Talkhouse has asked me back to write about another record. Someone must have gotten something out of the piece I did on Keith Jarrett's ...