The music on these six discs comes from roughly the first decade of William Parker's career, one of the most intensely creative periods enjoyed by any musician of any era.
1. Thulin (28:33) 2. Time and Period (25:51) Daniel Carter (alto sax, trumpet); William Parker (bass) William Parker Ensemble
3. Commitment (21:38) William Parker (bass); John Hagen (tenor sax); Arthur Williams (trumpet)
DISC TWO Centering Dance Music Ensemble 1980
1. Facing the Sun, One is Never the Same (24:18) 2. One Day Understanding (Variation on a Theme by Albert Ayler) (22:28) 3. Bass Interlude (1:55) 4. Tapestry (16:28) David S. Ware (tenor sax); William Parker (bass); Denis Charles (drums); with Patricia Nicholson (dance)
DISC THREE Centering Dance Music Ensemble 1980 (continued) 1. Rainbow Light (26:56) William Parker-Charles Gayle Duo 2. Crosses (Long Scarf Over Canal Street) (18:39) 3. Entrusted Spirit (Dedicated to Bilal Abdur Rahman) (19:08) Charles Gayle (tenor sax); William Parker (bass) Centering Dance Music Ensemble: Voices
4. Angel Dance (5:50) 5. Sincerity (6:39) 6. In the Thicket (1:22) Brenda Bakr (voice on 4); Ellen Christi (voice on 5); Brenda Bakr, Ellen Christi, and Lisa Sokolov (voices on 6); William Parker (bass); Rashid Bakr (drums)
DISC FOUR Big Moon Ensemble
1. Dedication to Kenneth Patchen (24:59) 2. Hiroshima, Part One (16:30) 3. Hiroshima, Part Two (28:44) Jemeel Moondoc (alto sax), Daniel Carter (alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, cornet); Arthur Williams, Roy Campbell, Jr. (trumpet); William Parker (bass, recitation); Jay Oliver (bass); Denis Charles, Rashid Bakr (drums)
DISC FIVE Centering Big Band (Extending the Clues)
1. Ankti (Extending the Clues) (12:59) 2. Munyaovi (Cliff of the Porcupine) (14:46) 3. Palatala (Red Light of Sunrise) (4:35) 4. Lomahongva (Beautiful Clouds Arising) (29:10) 5. Tototo (Warrior Spirit Who Sings) (10:58) Daniel Carter, Jemeel Moondoc (alto sax), Ricardo Strobert (alto sax, flute); David S. Ware (tenor sax); Charles Tyler (baritone sax); Raphe Malik, Roy Campbell, Jr. (trumpet); Alex Lodico, Masahiko Kono (trombone); William Parker (bass); Zen Matsuura (drums); Lisa Sokolov, Ellen Christi (voice)
DISC SIX Centering Dance Music Ensemble 1976 (Dawn Voice) 1. Illuminese/Voice (34:07) 2. Falling Shadows (13:06) 3. Dawn/Face Still, Hands Folded (30:52) Rozanne Levine (clarinet); Malik Baraka, John Mingione (trumpet); Billy Bang, Ramsey Ameen (violin); William Parker (bass, recitation); Ellen Christi (voice); with Patricia Nicholson
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descriptions, reviews, &c.
The music on these six discs comes from roughly the first decade of William Parker's career, one of the most intensely creative periods enjoyed by any musician of any era. It's safe to say that much of the music will come as a revelation to even his most devoted listeners.