Vijay Iyer Trio - Historicity

Review by Yangsheng Chen

Review: Historicity by Vijay Iyer Trio – A Bold Journey Through Jazz Innovation Released in 2009 under the German label ACT, Historicity by Vijay Iyer Trio is a masterclass in blending styles like Free Improvisation, Contemporary Jazz, and Avant-garde Jazz. This album isn’t just jazz—it’s jazz with teeth, guts, and a whole lot of soul. With Vijay Iyer on piano, Stephan Crump on bass, and Marcus Gilmore on drums, the trio crafts an experience that feels both cerebral and visceral. It’s the kind of record you can nerd out to or simply let wash over you. The tracklist alone tells a story—covers reimagined, originals composed with precision, and arrangements so tight they feel alive. Two tracks stand out for me: “Mystic Brew (Trixation Version)” and “Dogon A.D.” These aren’t just songs; they’re moments that stick to your ribs. “Mystic Brew” opens the album with a hypnotic groove that sneaks up on you. The rhythm section locks into something almost trance-inducing while Iyer’s piano dances around it like a cat chasing shadows. You don’t just hear this track—you feel it. It’s clever without being pretentious, intricate but never alienating. That bassline? Pure magic. If there was ever a tune to convince someone skeptical about jazz, this would be it. Then there’s “Dogon A.D.,” originally penned by Julius Hemphill. Here, the trio takes the piece and flips it into something completely their own. Gilmore’s drumming deserves special mention here—he doesn’t just play the beat; he shapes it, stretches it, makes it breathe. And when Crump’s bass hits those deep tones, it’s like the ground beneath you shifts slightly. There’s a raw energy here, a sense of controlled chaos that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Credit where it’s due: the production team nailed it. Max Ross engineered the soundscapes, Scotty Hard mixed them into clarity, and Mike Fossenkemper mastered everything to perfection. Even the cover art by Anish Kapoor adds a visual layer to the auditory brilliance. Dave Morgan’s photography ties it all together, giving the project a cohesive aesthetic vibe. But what really sets Historicity apart isn’t just its technical wizardry—it’s how human it feels. Whether it’s Iyer’s liner notes or the way each musician seems to listen intently to one another, this album breathes collaboration. Sure, it’s smart, but it’s also got heart. Here’s the kicker though: listening to Historicity feels less like consuming music and more like eavesdropping on a conversation between three old friends who happen to be geniuses. Maybe that’s why it sticks with you long after the last note fades. Or maybe it’s because sometimes, jazz doesn’t need to explain itself—it just needs to exist.

Artist: Vijay Iyer Trio
Album: Historicity

Germany

Jazz

2012

Rating: 5.0

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Filename: vijay-iyer-trio-historicity.zip

MP3 size: 62.4 mb
FLAC size: 614.9 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Galang (Trio Riot Version)	2:41
Dogon A.D.	9:18
Segment For Sentiment #2	4:03
Galang (The Riot Version)	2:39
Trident: 2010	9:05
Mystic Brew [Trixation Version]	4:55
Smoke Stack	8:07
Helix	4:00
Somewhere	6:57
Historicity	7:48
Big Brother	4:48
Mystic Brew (Trixation Version)	4:55
Galang [Trio Root Version]	2:39

Video

Vijay Iyer trio - Segment for sentiment #2

Vijay Iyer - Historicity

Somewhere

Vijay Iyer Trio - Helix

Images

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Catalog Numbers

ACT 9489-1
ACT 9489-2
ACT 4110-2

Labels

The ACT Company
ACT

Listen online

ascolta in linea
ouvir online
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren
écouter en ligne
lytte på nettet
online anhören
escuchar en línea
kuunnella verkossa

Formats

2 × Vinyl
LP
Gatefold
Vinyl
LP Vinyl
Single Sided All Media
Album
Limited Edition
CD
Reissue
Digipak

Companies

Role	Company
Record Company	ACT Music
Licensed To	Vision GmbH & Co. KG
Recorded At	Systems Two
Mixed At	Clawed Knobs
Mastered At	Turtletone Studio
Phonographic Copyright (p)	ACT
Copyright (c)	ACT
Manufactured By	Optimal Media Production
Lacquer Cut At	Optimal Media Production
Published By	Multiplicity Music

Credits

Role	Credit
Bass	Stephan Crump
Cover	Anish Kapoor
Drums	Marcus Gilmore
Engineer	Max Ross
Mastered By	Mike Fossenkemper
Mixed By	Scotty Hard
Photography By	Dave Morgan
Piano	Vijay Iyer
Arranged By	Vijay Iyer
Producer	Vijay Iyer
Recorded By	Joe Marciano
Written-By	Vijay Iyer (tracks: 1, 4, 9, 10)
Liner Notes	Vijay Iyer
Management	Steve Cohen

Notes

Comes with Forward By Vijay Iyer on the meaning.
All compositions C2009 Vijay Iyer, published by Multipicity Music (SESAC) / ACT Publishing Ltd., except:
"Somewhere":Universal-polygram Intyl. Pub., Leonard Bernstein Music Pub. Co., Chappel & Col. / "Galang": Universal-Songs of Polygram, Island Music Ltd., Universal Music-Z Tunes, Zomba Music Publishers Ltd., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. / "Smoke Stack": EMI Unart (BMI) / "Big Brother": Johanan Vigoda, Jobete Music Co Inc., Black Bull Music Inc. / "Dogon A.D.": Mbari Production Company / "Mystic Brew": EMI Unart Catalog Inc.
Recorded at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY on November 3, 2008 & March 31, 2009
Mixed at Clawed Knobs, Brooklyn, NY on April 11 - 13, 2009
Mastered at Turtletone Studio, New York, NY
Coverart: Model for Memory, 2008 by permission of the artist and Deutsche Guggenheim
Side D: Blank
Mixed at Clawed Knobs, Brooklyn, NY on April 11-13, 2009
Mastered at Turtletone Studio, New York, ny
Tracks 1, 4, 9, 10: Published by Multiplicity Music (SESAC) / ACT Publishing Ltd.
Track 2: Published by Universal-Polygram Intl. Pub., Leonard Bernstain Music Pub. Co., Chappell & Co.
Track 3: Published by Universal-Songs of Polygram, Island Music Ltd., Universal Music-Z Tunes, Zomba Music Publishers Ltd., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI Music Publishing Ltd.
Track 5: Published by EMI Unart (BMI)
Track 6: Published by Jonahan Vigoda, Jobete Music Co Inc., Black Bull Music Inc.
Track 7: Published by Mbari Production Company
Track 8: Published by EMI Unart Catalog Inc.
Coverart: Model For Memory, 2008 by permission of the artist and Deutsche Guggenheim.
℗ + © 2009 ACT Music + Vision GmbH + Co. KG
Track times are as read from the CD, and differ slightly from those printed on release.
Packaged in a double-gatefold Digipak.
© 2012 ℗ 2009 ACT Music + Vision GmbH + Co. KG
Track times are as printed on release.

Barcodes

Barcode: 6 14427 94891 5
Matrix / Runout (B973652-01 HL): A1
Matrix / Runout (B973652-01 HL): B1
Matrix / Runout (B973652-02 HL): C1
Barcode: 61442794 8915
Label Code: LC 07644
Matrix / Runout (Side A, stamped): B973652-01 A1 HL
Matrix / Runout (Side B, stamped): B973652-01 B1 HL
Matrix / Runout (Side C, stamped): B973652-02 C1 HL
Barcode (Text): 6 14427 94892 2
Barcode (Scanned UPC as 13-digit GTIN): 0614427948922
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1): manufactured by optimal media production A970353-01
Mastering SID Code (Variant 1): ifpi L572
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 9727
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2): manufactured by optimal media production A970353-01
Mastering SID Code (Variant 2): ifpi L572
Mould SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI 9707
Rights Society: SESAC
Rights Society: BMI
Barcode (Text): 6 14427 41102 0
Matrix / Runout: manufactured by optimal media production A970353-01
Rights Society: GEMA

About Vijay Iyer Trio

last ned album Vijay Iyer Trio - Historicity

Jazz trio (bass, drums and piano) led by .

Name Vars

The Vijay Iyer Trio

Members

Vijay Iyer
Stephan Crump
Marcus Gilmore
Brad Hargreaves
Jeff Brock

whosampled.com

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that Vijay Iyer's album *Historicity* blends jazz with unexpected twists? One standout track is a reimagined version of M.I.A.'s "Galang." The trio takes this electronic banger and transforms it into an avant-garde jazz masterpiece. It’s wild how they mix genres while keeping the soul of the original alive. Plus, the album cover features art by Anish Kapoor—adding a whole other layer of creativity to the project.