It’s been two decades since Epistrophy Arts introduced Matthew Shipp to Austin. EA’s compadres Nothing Is Sacred do the honors here, bringing his solo piano to a venue perfectly suited to his empyrean magic. For nearly 40 years, Shipp has crossbred composition and improvisation in ways no other musician has, building a library of brilliant recordings and performances. This year’s The Cosmic Piano is as good as anything he’s ever done, which is to say, as good as any music threading that needle can be. Sometimes we share a room with a higher presence – someone whose art proves that transcendence is only the beginning. That’s Matthew Shipp. Don’t miss it. – Michael Toland
