{{for |other similarly-titled articles|Shadowplay (disambiguation)}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Shadow Plays | type = Live | artist = Craig Taborn | cover = Shadow Plays CT.jpg | alt = | released = October 8, 2021 | recorded = March 2, 2020 | venue = Konzerthaus, Vienna | genre = Jazz, free improvisation | length = 1:16:21 | label = ECM 2693 | producer = Manfred Eicher | chronology = Craig Taborn | year = 2021 | prev_title = Compass Confusion | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = hEARoes | next_year = 2023 }}
'''''Shadow Plays''''' is a live solo piano album by Craig Taborn recorded at the Konzerthaus, Vienna, on March 2, 2020, and released on ECM in October the following year.
==Background== Taborn's previous solo piano album, ''Avenging Angel'', was recorded in 2010.<ref name="AM" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Kelman |first=John |date=May 31, 2011 |title=Craig Taborn: Craig Taborn – Avenging Angel |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/craig-taborn-avenging-angel |website=All About Jazz |access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> Since then, he had performed and recorded in a diverse range of bands and styles.<ref name="AM" /><ref name="FT" />
==Recording and music== The album was recorded at the Mozart-Saal of the Konzerthaus, Vienna, on March 2, 2020; the concert was billed as ''Avenging Angel II''.<ref name="ECM1">{{cite web |title=Shadow Plays: Craig Taborn – Background |url=https://ecmrecords.com/catalogue/1624517983 |website=ECM Records |access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Micucci |first=Matt |date=October 2021 |title=10 Albums You Need to Know: October 2021 |url=https://www.jazziz.com/10-albums-you-need-to-know-october-2021/ |magazine=Jazziz |access-date=}}</ref> All seven of the solo piano pieces were improvised.<ref name="FT" /> The album was produced by Manfred Eicher.<ref name="ECM1" />
==Release and reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = ''All About Jazz'' | rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jurkovic |first1=Mike |title=Craig Taborn: Shadow Plays album review @ All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/shadow-plays-craig-taborn-ecm-records__8199#:~:text=Taborn%20is%20a%20master%20of,against%20those%20most%20revered%20pillars. |website=All About Jazz |access-date=27 January 2022 |language=en |date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> | rev2 = AllMusic | rev2Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web |last=Jurek |first=Thom |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/shadow-plays-mw0003578409 |title=Craig Taborn: Shadow Plays |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> | rev3 = ''DownBeat'' | rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Lorge |first=Suzanne |date=January 2022 |title=Craig Taborn: Shadow Plays |url= |magazine=DownBeat |volume=89 |issue=1 |page=50}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Financial Times'' | rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="FT">{{cite news |last=Hobart |first=Mike |date=October 8, 2021 |title=Craig Taborn: Shadow Plays – Spontaneous Masterworks |url=https://www.ft.com/content/77f2db1a-dd65-4c10-9930-c54ed22df940 |work=Financial Times |access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Jazzwise'' | rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="JW">{{cite web |last1=Le Gendre |first1=Kevin |title=CRAIG TABORN: SHADOW PLAYS |url=https://www.jazzwise.com/review/craig-taborn-shadow-plays |website=Jazzwise |access-date=27 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> | rev6 = Tom Hull | rev6score = B+<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Hull: Grade List: Craig Taborn |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/nm/get_gl.php?n=Craig+Taborn | publisher=Tom Hull |access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> }} ''Shadow Plays'' was released by ECM Records on 8 October 2021.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Micucci |first=Matt |date=October 2021 |title=10 Albums You Need to Know: October 2021 |url=https://www.jazziz.com/10-albums-you-need-to-know-october-2021/ |magazine=Jazziz |access-date=}}</ref>
The AllMusic reviewer concluded: "Where ''Avenging Angel'' opened our ears to Taborn's consummate abilities to compose and organize simultaneously without surrendering his creativity, ''Shadow Plays'' extends that by offering a profound sense of intimacy with instrument and audience. It delivers fantastical groups of ideas that flow without undue force or ego to become something that is at once wondrous and revelatory."<ref name="AM" />
The reviewer for the ''Financial Times'' wrote that the album features Taborn "delivering spontaneous masterworks with a majestic sense of form and captures his robust touch and uncanny sense of space in pristine sound".<ref name="FT" />
==Track listing== All compositions by Craig Taborn
#"Bird Templars" – 17:02 #"Discordia Concors" – 8:57 #"Conspiracy of Things" – 5:50 #"Concordia Discors" – 11:59 #"A Code with Spells" – 8:09 #"Shadow Play" – 18:37 #"Now in Hope" – 5:47
==Personnel== *Craig Taborn – piano
==References== {{reflist}} {{Craig Taborn}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2021 live albums Category:Albums produced by Manfred Eicher Category:Craig Taborn live albums Category:ECM Records live albums Category:Solo piano jazz albums