william parker

Jazz Bassist William Parker Puts His Musical Philosophy Into Action on ‘Universal Tonality’

Jazz Bassist William Parker Puts His Musical Philosophy Into Action on ‘Universal Tonality’

William Parker’s Universal Tonality is a recording he has been holding in his back pocket for just about 20 years now, which is crazy because it’s so good.

Three Veteran Jazz Musicians Pay Tribute to Cecil Taylor By Not Performing His Music

Three Veteran Jazz Musicians Pay Tribute to Cecil Taylor By Not Performing His Music

Drummer Andrew Cyrille, bassist William Parker, and flugelhornist Enrico Rava pay tribute to the late Cecil Taylor on ‘2 Blues for Cecil’ minus a piano.

Whit Dickey Reunites Old Trio to Create Dizzyingly Modern Sounds

Whit Dickey Reunites Old Trio to Create Dizzyingly Modern Sounds

Whit Dickey, William Parker, and Matthew Shipp push, pull, and roll their weight around in equal measure, making Village Mothership as unique as it is difficult.

James Brandon Lewis and Red Lily Wagon Explore George Washington Carver’s Legacy Through Heartfelt Improvisation

James Brandon Lewis and Red Lily Wagon Explore George Washington Carver’s Legacy Through Heartfelt Improvisation

James Brandon Lewis, a highly expressive young saxophonist, explores the meaning of George Washington Carver through a fresh quintet, earthy and free at once.

The Music of William Parker: Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World, Volumes 1-10

The Music of William Parker: Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World, Volumes 1-10

Prolific star of New York’s creative jazz scene, William Parker releases ten new albums in a new box set, demonstrating his breadth of composition and association.

‘History Gets Ahead of the Story’ for Jazz’s Cosgrove, Medeski, and Lederer

‘History Gets Ahead of the Story’ for Jazz’s Cosgrove, Medeski, and Lederer

Jazz drummer Jeff Cosgrove leads brilliant organ player John Medeski and multi-reed master Jeff Lederer through a revelatory recording of songs by William Parker and some just-as-good originals.

William Parker Swings and Plays on Jazz’s Edge with ‘Live/Shapeshifter’

William Parker Swings and Plays on Jazz’s Edge with ‘Live/Shapeshifter’

On Live/Shapeshifter, William Parker goes way back to Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus in muscular swing and melodic grace while still seeming to play out on the edge.

The Best Jazz of 2018

The Best Jazz of 2018

The definition of "jazz" has never been broader, and the music has never been brighter. Two PopMatters critics pick their favorites in four modern jazz categories.

Daniel Carter, William Parker, and Matthew Shipp Prove Their Collective Worth on ‘Seraphic Light’

Daniel Carter, William Parker, and Matthew Shipp Prove Their Collective Worth on ‘Seraphic Light’

Improvising is one thing. Improvising in a trio setting is another thing. Making beautiful and complex music together completely off-the-cuff is something else entirely.

Jazz’s William Parker Creates an Album of a Lifetime… Again with ‘Voices Fall from the Sky’

Jazz’s William Parker Creates an Album of a Lifetime… Again with ‘Voices Fall from the Sky’

In a career full of lofty goals and incredible highs, William Parker has once again sculpted an album that will stand apart from the pack through beauty alone.

Ivo Perelman: Philosophers Stone / Octagon / Heptagon / Scalene / Live in Baltimore / Live in Brussels

Ivo Perelman: Philosophers Stone / Octagon / Heptagon / Scalene / Live in Baltimore / Live in Brussels

The prolific, free-blowing tenor saxophonists releases six recordings at once, including two live sets, that demonstrate (again) his ability to invent in the moment with collaborators of all kinds.

William Parker: For Those Who Are, Still

William Parker: For Those Who Are, Still

Jazz bassist William Parker escorts himself into a whole new realm of modern music on For Those Who Are, Still.