Cactus (Bobby Kapp and Matthew Shipp album) explained

Cactus
Type:studio
Artist:Bobby Kapp and Matthew Shipp
Cover:Cactus_Bobby_Kapp_cover.jpeg
Released:2016
Recorded:2016
Studio:Systems Two, Brooklyn
Genre:Jazz
Length:61:21
Label:Northern Spy
Chronology:Matthew Shipp
Prev Title:The Conduct of Jazz
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Piano Song
Next Year:2017

Cactus is an album by American jazz drummer Bobby Kapp and pianist Matthew Shipp, which was recorded in 2016 and released on Northern Spy. It was their first duo recording, following 2015's Kapp quartet album Themes 4 Transmutation.[1]

Reception

In a review for Pitchfork Marc Masters notes "The thrill of Cactus is not that the music could fall apart at any moment, but that this duo can handle anything they throw at each other."[2]

The All About Jazz review by Dan MccLenaghan states "Everything meshed on this set. Cactus proves itself cohesive CD full of unpretentious, adventurous, improvised beauty."[3]

In another review for All About Jazz Karl Ackermann says "The music is horrible from beginning to end and, more importantly, there is an element of surprise in each piece that makes the overall album extremely uncomfortable."[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Kapp/Shipp.

  1. "Overture" – 8:32
  2. "Before" – 4:27
  3. "During" – 5:51
  4. "Money" – 6:11
  5. "Cactus" – 5:32
  6. "After" – 8:09
  7. "Good Wood" – 10:50
  8. "Snow Storm Coming" – 5:41
  9. "The 3rd Sound" – 6:08

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. https://northernspyrecs.com/product/bobby-kapp-matthew-shipp-cactus/ Cactus
  2. Masters, Marc. Cactus review at Pitchfork
  3. MccLenaghan, Dan. Cactus review at All About Jazz
  4. Ackermann, Karl. Cactus review at All About Jazz