Setlist for 12 November 2008

Today's show highlighted the best releases to arrive in WMEBs jazz rotation for the month of October.  If you listened, I hope that you enjoyed the show.  If you didn't here is what you missed.

• Mary Halvorson Trio, "Old Nine Two Six Four Two Dies (No. 10)", Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records)
• William Parker Quartet, "Dust from a Mountain", Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity)
• Dave Holland Sextet, "Fast Track", Pass It On (Dare2 Records)
• Bebo Valdés & Javier Colina, "Siboney", Live at the Village Vanguard (Calle 54 Records)
• Gilfema, "Question of Perspective", Gilfema + 2 (ObliqSound)
• Renolds Jazz Orchestra, "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani", Cube (Shanti Records)
• Jay Clayton, "Free Me", The Peace of Wild Things (Sunnyside Communications)
• e.s.t., "Jazz", Leucocyte (EmArcy)
• Mary Halvorson Trio, "Scant Frame (No. 2)", Dragon's Head (Firehouse 12 Records)
  

Review - William Parker's Petit Oiseau

William Parker

Petit Oiseau

(AUM Fidelity)

Grade: A+

Let me start by saying that I am not an objective listener of William Parker's music.  Parker's songs resonate with me like no other composer's in modern jazz.  Thus, it is only fair to let you know that I was predisposed to think favorably of Petit Oiseau.

Petit Oiseau or Little Bird is the third recording from the William Parker Quartet.  These four musicians are extremely familiar with each other as they all work in together in some of Parker's other projects.  This familiarity results in a very easy and natural musical conversation that occurs amongst the four of them.  As listeners, we get to enjoy the fruits of these conversations.

The songs often start with a groove, ably laid down by Parker and Parker's drummer of choice, Hamid Drake.  There is not a more formidable rhythm section playing in jazz today.  This is not hyperbole - listen to the 17+ minute opener "Groove Sweet" as this sweet of three grooves is propelled by the rock solid foundation supplied by Parker and Drake.  The front line of Rob Brown on alto sax and B-flat clarinet and Lewis 'Flip' Barnes on trumpet color the songs.  Both Brown and Barnes are versatile musicians, each summoning a variety of tones that are used to evoke the mood required for the song.  These four musicians do all this while navigating their way through Parker's harmonically complex songs and make it seem easy.

Parker's ethos is about harmony, musically and spiritually.  His music is often meditative relying on ostinato patterns that change and shift slowly, almost imperceptably.  This peace, this state of awareness, is arrived at by design.  Parker is a deep thinker, who like a holy man, seeks wisdom through enlightenment.  The compositions are his vehicle for the journey.

Allow me to close with the words of Mr. Parker from the liner notes to Petit Oiseau.  "We must eventually fly from the inside out.  It is not about good music or bad music.  It is ultimately about love, compassion and forgiveness."