Vijay Iyer – Break Stuff

After making many wild experimental records, the Vijay Iyer Trio returns to jazz-oriented Break Stuff. With Marcus Gilmore’s fluid rhythmic patterns and Stephan Crump’ sturdy tempo complementing Iyer’s various voicings (from rigorous to arpeggio), the group co-constructs a wide range of repertoire. From the fragmented reimagination of Thelonious Monk’s “Work” to the African-inspired reinterpretation of John Coltrane’s “Countdown” to the intimate, heartfelt recreation of Billy Strayhorn’s “Blood Count,” the results are tightly conceptual and yet pleasantly accessible.