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William Parker/In Order to Survive: Live/Shapeshifter
ByLike his previous (and highly recommended) efforts with the group "In Order To Survive," Parker gives all the members wide latitude to bring it. Parker himself never seems to run dry of creativity. No matter how often one listens to his bass lines, there is always something new to discover. Take note of his amazing rumbles on "Eternal Is The Voice Of LoveIII," just before Brown enters with a flute solo. Or his strong and masterful bowing at the start of "Eternal Is The Voice Of LoveV."
Speaking of Brown, his solo at the beginning of "Eternal Is The Voice Of LoveIV" demonstrates his ability to take an abstract line and pursue it through a number of radical and furious changes, all this atop the stunning free playing accompaniment laid down by Cooper-Moore. Brown's alto sounds like a July 4th sparkler, with bright shards of music spreading everywhere at the same time.
The song also features the immaculate Hamid Drake, who works all the cymbals with sizzle. While spontaneous in effect, there is great clarity in Drake's playing across the trap set, from bass drum to high hat. And on "Demons Lining the Halls of Justice," he backs Cooper-Moore's intense piano phrases with arrhythmic plops and rolls that enter and exit at just the right time. Not to be left out, Brown issues wails atop Parker's chordal strums and rapid plucks, which at times are picked up and emphasized by Drake.
On "Newark (for Grachan Moncur III)," in homage to the In Order to Survive alum and hard bop trombonist, Parker delivers an abstract bluesy sequence, and at its end, a rumbling solo that generates great feeling even in subdued tones. This continues into the soulful tune, "In Order to Survive," where the lyrics implore:
In order to survive, you've gotta keep hope alive!
Filled with tremendous energylike a wildfire ripping through a dry forestthe music of William Parker is "unforgettable." Having played with David S. Ware and Cecil Taylor, such energetic music is understandable. But Parker, through his innovations and thoughtful creations, has carved out his own wing in the pantheon of jazz, a wing where this album will hang high.
Track Listing
Eternal Is The Voice Of Love – I; Eternal Is The Voice Of Love – II; Eternal Is The Voice Of Love – III; Eternal Is The Voice Of Love – IV; Eternal Is The Voice Of Love – V; Demons Lining the Halls of Justice; Drum & Bass Interlude; Newark (for Grachan Moncur III); In Order To Survive; Eternity.
Personnel
William Parker
bassWilliam Parker: bass; Rob Brown: alto saxophone; Cooper-Moore: piano; Hamid Drake: drums.
Album information
Title: Live/Shapeshifter | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: AUM Fidelity