Matthew Shipp
Pianist
Avant-garde jazz pianist and bandleader who played on the edge between modern classical jazz and free jazz.
He played in rock bands in high school. He fully committed to jazz while attending the New England Conservatory of Music where he was taught by Dennis Sandole, John Coltrane's saxophone instructor.
He started off playing in jazz groups, such as David S. Ware's quartet, before moving on to duets and finally solo works.
He was exposed to jazz early in his childhood, thanks to his mother's friendship with trumpeter Clifford Brown.
His lengthy list of collaborators consisted of such great musicians as DJ Spooky, William Parker, and Roscoe Mitchell.