The Flow of X

The Flow of X is an album by the American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, recorded in 1995 and released on the 2.13.61 label. It features a quartet with violinist Mat Maneri, bassist William Parker and drummer Whit Dickey, the same lineup as the previous album Critical Mass. The liner notes include a piece by Shipp comparing boxing and jazz.^[1]

The Flow of X
Studio album by Matthew Shipp
Released	1997
Recorded	May 14, 1995
Studio	Seltzer Sound, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	48:49
Label	2.13.61
Producer	Matthew Shipp
Matthew Shipp chronology
2-Z (1996) The Flow of X (1997) Before the World (1997)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[4]

In his review for AllMusic, Charlie Wilmoth states that "Shipp plays rich, low-register chords and more acrobatic lines like a slightly more sedate Cecil Taylor."^[2] The JazzTimes review by Josef Woodard notes that "this music is all about flow, the flow of dialogue and moods between sentient musicians and the flow of music with a decidedly free will."^[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Matthew Shipp

1. "Flow of X" – 5:49
2. "Flow of Silence" – 6:12
3. "Flow of Y" – 7:43
4. "Flow of M" – 6:52
5. "Flow of U" – 9:33
6. "Instinctive Codes" – 12:40

Personnel

• Matthew Shipp – piano
• Mat Maneri – violin
• William Parker – bass
• Whit Dickey – drums