- Original Release Date: October 13, 2009
- Label: ACT Music
- Copyright: 2009 ACT Music + Vision GmbH + Co. KG
- Total Length: 1:01:51
- Genres:
- ASIN: B002MHG47W
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,589 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
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| Song Title | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play | 1. Historicity | 7:50 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 2. Somewhere | 6:57 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 3. Galang (Trio Riot Version) | 2:40 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 4. Helix | 4:00 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 5. Smoke Stack | 8:09 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 6. Big Brother | 4:47 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 7. Dogon A.D. | 9:19 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 8. Mystic Brew | 4:56 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 9. Trident: 2010 | 9:10 | $0.89 | |
| Play | 10. Segment For Sentiment #2 | 4:03 | $0.89 |
Product Details |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Historicity is the new trio album by the Vijay Iyer trio (Iyer on piano, Stephan Crump on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums.) It is also, in my estimation, the best new jazz release of 2009. The album features 10 tunes and includes covers of such diverse songwriters as Andrew Hill, Stevie Wonder and Julius Hemphill. There are also three originals by Iyer.
The playing on this CD is wonderful - angular, virtuosic, intelligent. This is piano trio music for the 21st century. Just listen for the traces of the beautiful melody in the density of sound that the group achieves on their fantastic cover of Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere." The Hill number "Smokestack" is nearly as brilliant. I listen to dozens of jazz trio albums each year and while many (if not most) are enjoyable and musically competent, very few really having something new to say. Vijay Iyer's Historicity is one of those albums. Listen and hear for yourself.
The playing on this CD is wonderful - angular, virtuosic, intelligent. This is piano trio music for the 21st century. Just listen for the traces of the beautiful melody in the density of sound that the group achieves on their fantastic cover of Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere." The Hill number "Smokestack" is nearly as brilliant. I listen to dozens of jazz trio albums each year and while many (if not most) are enjoyable and musically competent, very few really having something new to say. Vijay Iyer's Historicity is one of those albums. Listen and hear for yourself.
33 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By lee morgan
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The trio, rather than the larger group with Rudresh on tenor, is really the perfect format/foil for Vijay Iyer. This recording is simply stunning, whether youre a fan of extraordinary technique or pure improvisational chops. Just a cursory listen to how Vijay uses a standard like "Somewhere" as a vehicle for melodic and harmonic reinvention is worth the price of this recording. Among the covers here: Juluis Hemphill's Dogon AD and Smokestack which reveals the clear influence of Andrew Hill on Vijay. Simply stunning.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Overview:
When I first heard this was going to be a trio and Rudresh Mahanthappa was not going to be playing on the CD I thought this couldn't possibly be as good as Vijay's recent releases. Vijay and Rudresh have such chemistry ... how could the trio be better? Well it is. It is way better. I love Vijay's prior albums but this one is really special. Prior to this album I never really heard bassist Crump. There was too much else going on. On this format you can really here Marcus Gilmore on drums and Stephen Crump on bass, and they are really good. And Vijay can fill up space like you wouldn't believe. Having no other leads gives Vijay lots of room and he romps all over the place. Two other important things to note about this album: #1 it is very modern and reminds me a bit of E.S.T. #2 This is the first Vijay Iyer album where it truly is a modern postbop album and not a world music/jazz fusion album. There is a tinge of world accent on the remake of Trident, but besides that this could just as easily be a modern Scandanavian trio. While I love the world accent on the previous albums, it is impressive to see Vijay move past something that was successful onto some that is even better.
Song Highlights:
Dogon A.D. - This track is a modern funky romp. Bassist Crump opens with the bow on the bass strings and gets down with it. This really reminds of of E.S.T. ...man i miss them. Dogon A.D. is an album by Julius Hemphill which was released in 1972. Vijay really dug deep in history to find this one. Thank you.
Mystic Brew - Vijay reworked a Ronnie Foster song here. Vijay does these killer staccato appegios that just rock. It's upbeat and pretty and magical.
Galang - very modern tune originaly written by Maya Arulpragasam.... Read more ›
When I first heard this was going to be a trio and Rudresh Mahanthappa was not going to be playing on the CD I thought this couldn't possibly be as good as Vijay's recent releases. Vijay and Rudresh have such chemistry ... how could the trio be better? Well it is. It is way better. I love Vijay's prior albums but this one is really special. Prior to this album I never really heard bassist Crump. There was too much else going on. On this format you can really here Marcus Gilmore on drums and Stephen Crump on bass, and they are really good. And Vijay can fill up space like you wouldn't believe. Having no other leads gives Vijay lots of room and he romps all over the place. Two other important things to note about this album: #1 it is very modern and reminds me a bit of E.S.T. #2 This is the first Vijay Iyer album where it truly is a modern postbop album and not a world music/jazz fusion album. There is a tinge of world accent on the remake of Trident, but besides that this could just as easily be a modern Scandanavian trio. While I love the world accent on the previous albums, it is impressive to see Vijay move past something that was successful onto some that is even better.
Song Highlights:
Dogon A.D. - This track is a modern funky romp. Bassist Crump opens with the bow on the bass strings and gets down with it. This really reminds of of E.S.T. ...man i miss them. Dogon A.D. is an album by Julius Hemphill which was released in 1972. Vijay really dug deep in history to find this one. Thank you.
Mystic Brew - Vijay reworked a Ronnie Foster song here. Vijay does these killer staccato appegios that just rock. It's upbeat and pretty and magical.
Galang - very modern tune originaly written by Maya Arulpragasam.... Read more ›
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Angry Wombat
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've never quite understood most Jazz, but that doesn't seem to matter with Vijay Iyer. He creates some of the best music to listen to in all situations, background music, driving music, and best of all he truly entertains when I just sit down, close my eyes and listen. While all Vijay Iyer albums are great, this one is definitely the best.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By BK
Format:Audio CD
Historicity is without a doubt one of the most unique piano trio albums to come along in quite some time. Vijay Iyer Trio's expansive, worldly, and highly intellectual style is one that they can claim as their very own, and it is exemplified the best in the 10 tracks here. For a while, I was very curious about this music but I had a hard time understanding it on the level that would maximize my appreciation. The moral of the story here is that Historicity requires patience and a A LOT of listening to really comprehend its musical depths. However, careful listening is rewarded with an understanding of this group's telepathic musical connection.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having seen the Historicity concert on tour, i knew pretty much what to expect in creativity and quality. Great piano poly-rhythmic skills on the part of Vijay Iyer...he is a brilliant artist with a brilliant cast....Marcus Gilmore, a very talented drummer (and grandson of Roy Haynes) and Stephan Crump, a great bass player. I really appreciated 'Galang' (Trio Riot Version), typical of Vijay Iyer's style and talent.
By H. Sachs
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I like Iyer's style and creativity. I find this album more enjoyable than his quartet recordings as it puts him more front and center.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I really wanted to like this album, but I feel that it suffers from the same condition that permeates much of contemporary jazz these day: a lack of strong melodic ideas. Without some degree of well presented melodies, the music on this CD failed to keep my attention. Furthermore, the interplay and groove between the players never really locks-in. Consequently, I often got the feeling that the solos and grooves would meander around without making any clear statements. That being said, the players are good and the rhythm is stable. Overall, I was not as taken with this record as everyone else on the intertubes.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
brainy....good, but not great
I bought the hype on this and am again disappointed-when will I learn and
stop listening to the critics! Read more
stop listening to the critics! Read more
Published on December 3, 2010 by TREV
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vijay Iyer
I expected a departure from the normal small group piano performance. And, yes, it is a different piano interpretation. Read more
Published on November 20, 2010 by F. Hatt
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best jazz releases of the last few years
For the version of Somewhere alone, this is essential listening for modern jazz enthusiasts. And for bookish types with a credit card and much free time.
Published on May 31, 2010 by Todd M. Steed
4.0 out of 5 stars
As good as everyone says it is
"Historicity" is Vijay Iyer's trio album, and it got excellent reviews throughout 2009. I think it's as good as everyone says. Read more
Published on April 3, 2010 by Anthony Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Peerless wonder
If somebody wrote a review that simply said, "This is not only the best jazz album of 2009 by miles but also one of the most thrilling, most imaginative trio albums ever committed... Read more
Published on March 11, 2010 by Boxodreams
