Republic of Jazz: William Parker Quartets - Meditation / Resurrection (AUM FIDELITY 2017) 2CD

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

William Parker Quartets - Meditation / Resurrection (AUM FIDELITY 2017) 2CD

Meditation / Resurrection is a double-album presenting a bounty of beautiful new William Parker compositions performed by two of his flagship ensembles, the Quartet [tracks 1–7] -&- In Order To Survive [tracks 8–12]. It was recorded & mixed live during a one-day studio session in late 2016. With the tone of the pieces & performances reflecting our current moment, this is Parker & the groups’ follow-up to 2013’s monumental Wood Flute Songs box set (coming to bandcamp later in 2017!).

At the core of both groups is Parker’s foundational bass together with rhythm twin, the incomparable Hamid Drake. Their partnership–two decades deep now–is one of the great rhythm sections in recorded history. Alto saxophonist Rob Brown is likewise featured throughout. Brown is one of the all-time great improvisers on the alto, and the springboard of Parker’s bands in which he has been perennially featured always brings out his best.

Pianist Cooper-Moore features on album 2. He has been a very significant catalyst in the world of creative music for over 40 years. As William writes in the album notes, “Cooper-Moore is one of the special people who speaks and plays from the heart all the time with power and grace.” Cooper-Moore was the Lifetime Achievement Honoree at the 2017 edition of the Vision Festival, NYC.

Trumpeter Jalalu-Kalvert Nelson appears on album 1. Hailing from Oklahoma City, and a resident of Switzerland since 1994, he is a major figure in his own right as a composer of modern classical and world music, and is well-versed in the language of blues, jazz and improvisation. From the liner notes, “Jalalu is always able to transform any music situation into a magical experience.”

William Parker’s exceptional gift as a composer of beautiful melodies and infectious rhythms have long been intrinsic to his art, and it has always been on full display in the work of the quartets featured here. Being that these groups are among the highest caliber jazz bands of our time, Parker’s luminous compositions are brought to vibrant, ever-giving blossom.

2CD set is packaged in deluxe 8-panel digipak with extensive notes & new poetry by William Parker, and features artwork by Lois Eby.

* Full art & notes included as PDF booklet with Digital Album.

Album One – William Parker Quartet

1 .Criminals in the White House .(5:28)

2 .Leaves/Rain.(7:01)

3 .Horace Silver part 2 .(7:15)

4 .Handsome Lake. (10:03)

5 .Rodney's Resurrection. (10:06)

6 .Horace Silver part 1 .(4:44)

7 .Give Me Back My Drum .(11:29)

Album Two – In Order To Survive

1 .Sunrise In East Harlem. (11:26)