Completely unfettered solo saxophone work from Evan Parker – extremely intense, but not in an all-out blowing kind of way! Instead, Parker's got some incredible control on the valves here – playing with a frenetic sort of mode that's really incredible – freely improvising, but also really jamming too, with a dexterity that's simply amazing. That mix is what really set Parker apart from some of his contemporaries – a player who could be extremely sensitive at points, but also go head to head with some of the more fiercely-blown saxophonists of the European scene – and it's also a quality that's continued to make Parker so important as the decades move on. Titles include "Aerobatics 1", "Aerobatics 2", "Aerobatics 3", and "Aerobatics 4". LP, Vinyl record album
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Evan Parker —
Six Of One ... LP Incus/OTOroku (UK), 1980. New Copy (reissue)...
$25.99
The "one" here is the soprano saxophone – used exclusively by Evan Parker on the six improvised tracks on the set – each one very different than the other, and really showing the diversity and variation that Parker can bring to a performance! Often, the sound is very dense – tones and notes flowing effortlessly on top of one another – but clearly with this ear for sounds that often go beyond music, and a command of the instrument that rivals that of Steve Lacy in a similar setting – almost as if the record is Evan Parker's way of trying to claim a soprano saxophone title in the world of improvised music! LP, Vinyl record album
A fantastic meeting between pianist Pat Thomas and alto saxophonist Matana Roberts – recorded live in London, and showing an amazing sense of sympathy between the two improvisers – even though they're normally separated by the space of an ocean! Thomas has these really dark, moody tones on the piano at times – almost as if he's playing with a prepared version of the instrument, although we're guessing that he's showing more of a Cecil Taylor-like understanding of the full tonal possibilities of the piano – even though his approach is very different than Cecil. Matana has this crispy soulfulness and depth – almost as if she's bringing the best modern traditions on the alto into play with the richer currents of the tenor – with results that are breathtaking throughout! The set features one long track – "The Truth". LP, Vinyl record album