William Parker Quartet:

[.:.impossible]

William Parker Quartet:

Sabir Mateen (as, ts); Kidd Jordan (ts); William Parker ( b ); Alvin Fielder (d)

4.16.04 | Institute for Contemporary Art | Boston MA | Boston Creative Music Alliance

Shit Fuck [Hot] damn Fuck shit fuck shit fuck.

I had heard Sabir Mateen play in a duo with drummer Ben Karetnick a few years back in Atlanta. Tonight was his birthday. There was a small cake and a big sound.

Kidd Jordan is a player that I had yet to hear. I am familiar with the musicians he tends to surround himself with, yet somehow had never heard him before. His strength lies within cooperation with other the other musicians. He makes a point to play with each and every musician on the stage.

The first time I ever heard William Parker in person was last month with Brotzmann and Hamid Drake at this same venue. I am now completely convinced that William Parker is all he is credited to being. His fingers are quick, his arms are strong, his mind is colorful. His sounds are real.

Alright, who do I blame for sleeping on Alvin Fielder? The first I had heard of him was in the last issue of Cadence, a recent subscription for me. After reading the interview (part 1 of 2, by the way) I knew I was in for something. He knew ALL the drummers. And the trumpeters for that matter. He is a historical encyclopedia! Alvin Fielder is an unbelievably accomplished drummer steeped in the American tradition of the drum kit. His knowledge of the history and the rudiments and patterns that each drummer would favor is fascinating. He had a 32-bar solo during the first 20 minutes of a 90 minute non-stop set, which he later told me was Drum Serenade, stroke for stroke. His motion was more fluid and powerful than anyone I have personally witnessed behind the drum kit. He was rhythmic, he was percussive, he was swinging like a motherfucker. I am in awe of this man.

The group was more powerful than any music I had ever witnessed. I was born in 1977, so I missed the first wave of energy music to blow through Western Civilization in the 1960s. I have been to free performances before, but nothing ever came close to what these four men were able to achieve.

We all left this performance exhausted, and wired, similar to the effects of certain psychotropic drugs. I spoke briefly with Michael Ehlers. He had the same reaction. I asked him, “When do I get to hear that again?! I have a feeling this is going to make it to CD.” His response was “I don’t know what to tell you. I know. You think?!” He was just as blown away as I was, and he hears combos like this on a weekly basis.

This was their “world premiere” as a band. They sounded like they had played together with this sustained intensity often over the decades. They couldn’t stop. The momentum knocked me out.

If this quartet does continue to play together and they show up near your house, by all means make the trip. The ground the four covered in 90 minutes is too vast to get into, plus describing music is something that I feel less than qualified to do. Assuming you are a fan of free jazz, I predict you will be hearing this Eremite release within the next few years.

edit: stupid smiley that shows up when you think you are abbreviating "bass."

Edited April 17, 2004 by .:.impossible

[DTMX]

Shit Fuck [Hot] damn Fuck shit fuck shit fuck.

I had the same response at the Sam Rivers' Trio concert in Atlanta a few years back.

[.:.impossible]

I saw the trio in a church in Atlanta a few years back. Still have the ticket somewhere. That was a lot of fun. Maybe we were at the same show! This was just mind-blowing, and I mean that in the literal sense.

At one point, Kidd Jordan was summoning notes out of his bell with his bottom hand as if he could see a flow of energy coming out of his horn. Encouraging the sound to come out faster. Whether this is part of his show or not, I don't know, but at the time it seemed totally real.

It was rare when all four musicians weren't playing. There were times when William Parker's bow was matched up with Kidd's false-register vibrato in perfect unison.

The music was frenetic in constant crescendo. The four ended up in gospel, then deep deep blues, then what sounded like a less detailed melody of My Favorite Things. Kidd played this frame while Sabir embellished with design.

I really hope this is released so the people who weren't there can experience something similar. Unreal. Unreal.

[DTMX]

I saw the trio in a church in Atlanta a few years back. Still have the ticket somewhere. That was a lot of fun. Maybe we were at the same show!

You, me, and a bunch of other people. Saturday, February 23rd, not sure what year but it was probably 2000 or 2001. I gave myself 2 hours to drive 30 miles to to the gig but with Atlanta's typically horrible traffic it took 2.5 hours. The gig was sold out (SRO) but I was on the reservation list so they let me in - barely; I literally had my back pressed against the door for the whole show. Right before the show I noticed someone crowded up next to me, looked over, and it was Sam Rivers waiting for his introduction to come to the stage. Tall, reed-thin, and decked out in the baddest purple pinstriped pimp suit ever. The definition of cool. I think that was the most fun I've had at a concert.

That same church has hosted previous gigs by David S. Ware, Brotzmann, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey and others. Damn, that's a hell of a church!

[.:.impossible]

That's great D! I came down from Charlotte. I think it was 2001. We were probably four rows back toward the center. Afterwards, we went over to Vertigo for beer and burgers. I've had some good times in Atlanta.