Just wanted to correct the record after my preview in last week’s Time Out New York and note that Vijay Iyer’s drummer last week was Justin Brown, who’s been subbing for Marcus Gilmore on a regular basis and doing a great job. A player as rhythmically advanced as Iyer can’t hire just any drummer and expect it to work. Then again, not every drummer can handle Iyer’s geometric puzzles and also swing like mad in a straightahead vein with Gerald Clayton on Two-Shade, which easily makes my Top Ten list of 2009 (as does Iyer’s Historicity — more on that later).
Seriously, you must hear Clayton’s arrangement and solo on “All of You.” That’s all I’m going to say.
One more thing on the Iyer preview: H-Prizm is another name used by High Priest of Antipop Consortium. It’s not the name of the duo itself. But since I rattled off a list of Iyer’s assorted activities, I thought I’d post three gripping videos, the better to underscore the reach of his work. (Brace yourself for Ronald Shannon Jackson’s drumming on the Wadada Leo Smith clip.)
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