# CD review: Matthew Shipp, Chad Fowler – Old Stories 2022: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2022/04/28/cd-review-matthew-shipp-chad-fowler-old-stories-2022-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2022-04-28T00:57:50+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Arkansas-based saxophonist Chad Fowler and the stalwart avant pianist Matthew 
Shipp, a key figure of the New York’s downtown scene, are two creative spirits who
gathered recently to record their first duo record.**

The format is challenging for several reasons, but Old Stories, which unfolds in
14 chapters, puts on display an interesting chemistry between the twosome.

Skewed, wailing saxophone lines and well-measured piano textures immediately cook
a stew of poignancy, fervor, lyricism and, occasionally, delirium on “Chapter I”.
Employing Southern brushstrokes over a dimensional jazz canvas, “Chapter VII” and“
Chapter VIII” (the only piece in which Fowler plays the saxello) diverge from the
lucid call-and-response methodology of “Chapter II”, which extracts a certain dancing
quality from the playfulness adopted. More reflective in nature, “Chapter III” is
fueled by a sequence of staccato strokes near the end, whereas “Chapter IV” is an
avant-blues led to nearly psychosis.

Fowler blows the saxophone with a constantly fervent expression that favors dramatic
higher tones. It sounds great and is suitable for a period of time. Yet, I felt 
that most of the cuts ended up in the same alleys, making the listening a bit predictable.
In my perception, eight to nine tracks would have been ideal. Also, instead of following
an almost uninterrupted interplay (nonetheless taken to good places in “Chapter 
XIII” through highly motivic sequences), the disc would have benefitted greatly 
with some more room for solo piano and solo saxophone sections.

That being said, one can still find great joy in pieces such as “Chapter VI”, which
rocks and swings with the duo in close communication, and “Chapter X”, where the
atmosphere of the straighter extremities is disrupted by the ferocious, warped shoutouts
of the middle section. Old Stories may be an experimentation in need of different
heartbeats, but audacity within the narrative construction remains a fact.

**Tracks**

1. Chapter I 6:14
 2. Chapter II 4:28 3. Chapter III 4:43 4. Chapter IV 3:52 5. 
Chapter V 6:36 6. Chapter VI 6:20 7. Chapter VII 9:46 8. Chapter VIII 7:35 9. Chapter
IX 6:35 10. Chapter X 5:14 11. Chapter XI 4:20 12. Chapter XII 6:51 13. Chapter 
XIII 5:17 14. Chapter XIV 3:18

**Matthew Shipp – piano**
 **Chad Fowler – stritch, saxello**

![Matthew Shipp, Chad Fowler - Old Stories - Amazon.com Music](https://m.media-amazon.
com/images/I/81P2X+n0BuL._SL1400_.jpg)

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