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Vijay Iyer: Solo

By Dan McClenaghan
October 17, 2010
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Pianist Vijay Iyer may be one of the great ones; only time will tell. The pianist has risen to become a critics' darling, mostly on the basis of his quartet outings, including the much-lauded Reimagining (Savoy Jazz, 2005) and Tragicomic (Sunnyside Records, 2008). He's worked a trio magic, to, -with his piano/saxophone/drums

Fieldwork

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Fieldwork group, on the high intensity Your Life Flashes (Pi Recordings, 20002), Simulated Progress (Pi Recordings, 2005), and Door (Pi Recordings, 2008).

All of Iyer's recordings, pre-2009, have featured saxophonists: the innovative

Rudresh Mahanthappa

saxophone, alto
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudresh Mahanthappa on the sets under his own name, and the equally-talented Aaron Stewart and

Steve Lehman

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Lehman on the Fieldwork sets.

Iyer's Historicity (ACT Music, 2009)—a piano trio offering—and now Solo, indicate a paring down of the approach, and also a move into more non-original material, with marvelous results.

A good one-word description of Iyer's work, pre-Historicity would be "intense." The majority of his earlier offerings are full-speed-ahead, chip-on-the-shoulder, perhaps, with a tinge of anger—sounds that are looking to kick somebody's ass. The absence of the very aggressive saxophonists he employs seems to have injected some calm introspection into his artistry. He opens Solo with "Human Nature," the

Michael Jackson

vocals
1958 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Jackson hit that

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis brought over to the jazz side. Iyer respects the beautiful melody, and gives it a restless quality.

The restlessness continues on

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy," a busy, clamorous rendition that leads into a tension-and-release of the American Songbook tune, "Darn That Dream." Iyer feels his way into the ruminative melody and adds dashes of Monk-like dissonance.

Iyer also proves himself a superb interpreter of

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington compositions. His take on "Black and Tan Fantasy" possesses a jaunty, devil-may-care, percussive strut. "Fleurette Africaine" drifts deep into a somber mood that suggests a fitful struggle in its more percussive sections.

Iyer's own compositions often have an inward, very personal quality to them. "Autoscopy" is a turbulent, bristling disturbance, with flashes of unfettered

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor-like freedom before Iyer settles the sound into a soothing groove that he alternates with segments of high tension.

"Patterns" begins with a moment of peaceful reflection that builds to Iyer-esque, hard-charging intensity, while "Desiring" glows with an especially lovely and wistful mood of unrequited want.

By 2008, Vijay Iyer's work gave the feeling of an artist having reached a plateau, with a sense of sameness from one disc to the next. Now the pianist's vision expands. After the superb Historicity, the expectations for Iyer were high; with Solo, he has exceeded them .

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Human Nature; Epistrophy; Darn That Dream; Black & Tan Fantasy; Prelude: Heartpiece; Autoscopy; Patterns; Desiring; Games; Fleurette Africaine; One For Blount.

Personnel

Vijay Iyer

piano

Vijay Iyer: piano.

Album information

Title: Solo | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: ACT Music

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