New York-based pianist and composer Vijay Iyer is a rhythmic explorer whose piano trio album Historicity (ACT, 2009) is a cohesive and vibrant record that carries its creator and his colleagues firmly into the mainstream of modern music. The album stems from, among other sources, a succession of striking piano trio influences such as Duke Ellington's trio recording with Charles Mingus and Max Roach, Money Jungle (Blue Note, 1962), the small group Blue Note recordings by Andrew Hill, and the groundbreaking African Rhythms Trio of Randy Weston. On the way, Iyer's interest in 1970s R&B and funk, classical polytonalists such as Gyorgi Ligeti, and hip-hop rhythmic structuralists like MIA are infused. Though there is, of course, no guitar on the album, the general feel of Jimi Hendrix's Band Of Gypsys (Capitol, 1970), an album Iyer mentions as one of several “reference points" for the album, is not an inappropriate comparison.
AAJ Contributor Simon J. Harper spoke at length with Iyer, covering a wide range of topics including the inspiration behind Historicity, Iyer's incorporation of his Indian background, writing for the theater and orchestras, and the pianist's views on where jazz is and where it's heading.
Check out Vijay Iyer: Into The Mainstream at AAJ today!
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