Darkseid Recital

The inter-generational partnership of alto saxophonist Darius Jones and pianist Matthew Shipp seamlessly meshes the talents of two of the most restlessly inventive and deeply gifted instrumentalist-composer-improviser-leaders working today. This singular duo project was first revealed in 2011 on the 13-part song cycle Cosmic Lieder, widely hailed as a wholly original and deeply compelling work of great emotional and intellectual heft, and seemingly arriving from the future. Since then, Jones and Shipp have continued to develop and broaden their exclusive language live in performance. The Darkseid Recital is their brand-new album of cosmic lieder, triple distilled from NYC engagements at Jazz Standard and The Stone. It is yet another unimpeachably potent work, devoid of clich©. The approaches here range widely, from entrancingly lyrical and gentle ear candy to liquid flows of notes designed to caress to a shredding intensity that can potentially be quite frightening. All of them are rendered with laser-sharp focus with intent toward catharsis, resulting in a whole that is both warmly accessible and uncompromisingly inventive.