Jazz Articles about William Parker

About William Parker

Album Review

Matthew Shipp / William Parker: Duo

by Dan McClenaghan
October 21, 2026

Pianist Matthew Ship has always been cryptic. His music does not fit into categories. And though he may not boast a Sun Ra-level of recording prolificness, he is always, always busy. And if his output as a leader ever wanes, he sits in on sideman slots with tenor saxophonists David S. Ware and Ivo Perelman (and more) with dizzying regularity. Now for the cryptic aspect: Call him an artist of cosmic consequence. He seems to think so himself. ...

Radio & Podcasts

Great Black Music: Hear and Now!

by Hobart Taylor
October 15, 2026

New music from, Nicole Mitchell, Russell Gunn, Rahsaan Barber, and William Parker and a little something from Bertha Hope. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Russell Gunn “ Folkz" from The Afrikan-Amerikan Book of the Dead (Vanglorious) 00:04 Joy Oladokun “Sage" from Hope is a Heavy Thing (Concord) 06:56 Julian Davis Reid “It's Time My Friend" from Mercy We Need(Self-Produced) 9:46 Alexis Lombre/chef.kp “Desert Miles" from Out'chea in these Streets (Strivers' Row) 17:48 Willie Morris “Rules For Three" from To ...

Album Review

Daniel Carter / Sabir Mateen / William Parker / Lou Grassi: Keeping It In Context

Read "Keeping It In Context" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
September 30, 2026

This resounding blast from the past affirms drummer Lou Grassi's decision to flip from mainly commercial music to the adventurous end of the spectrum. He recorded Keeping It In Context in a 1996 session with some of New York City's finest avant practitioners following PoGressions (CJR, 1996), the date that led to him first dipping his toe in the free jazz waters. However, over time he forgot about the tapes. But when they resurfaced in 2023, their quality was immediately ...

Album Review

Ivo Perelman: Synesthesia

Read "Synesthesia" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
August 3, 2026

Like past gatherings of tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman, pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker, and drummer Bobby Kapp, inscribed to memory on the highly touted Ineffable Joy (ESP, 2019) and Heptagon (Leo Records, 2017), Synesthesia erupts into consciousness with a punch and flurry. Feverish by design, “First Color Heard" stays true to its title and to the heart of each participant. Rambling, rumbling, reaching for the stars, Perelman exhorts his fellow travelers, and “First Color Heard" fills the airspace ...

Live Review

William Parker's Pocketwatch at Loove Annex

by Fran Kursztejn
May 8, 2026

William Parker's Pocketwatch Loove Annex AFA ResidencyNew York City April 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026 Before beginning his final set of the night, William Parker took a moment to explain the name of his 'Pocketwatch ensemble, a rotating group of polyphonic masters that have met every Wednesday of April at Greenpoint's Loove Annex. The watch was handed down from Parker's father. It was made of real gold (Mr. Parker points to a facsimile that hangs from his ...

Radio & Podcasts

This One's For Bob Rogers: Radio for a Poet Who Just Happened to Program Radio

by Hobart Taylor
March 4, 2026

William Parker, Jane IraBloom, Rez Abassi and Helen Sung and other artists culled from Bob Rogers' playlist. Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Helen Sung “Feed The Fire" from Quartet + (Sunnyside) 02:34 Angelica Sanchez/Marilyn Crispell “Windfall Light" from How to Turn the Moon (Pyroclastic) 6:57 Rez Abbasi “Lonnie's Lament" from Sound Remains (Whirlwind) 11:57 Maya Beiser “Kebyar Maya" from Kinship (Koch) 19:55 Nels Cline Singers “Watch Over Us" from The Giant Pin (Cryptogramophone) 33:26 Host Speaks 39:51 Moppa Elliot ...

Album Review

John Dikeman: No Kings

by John Sharpe
January 7, 2026

Recorded live in 2022, No Kings documents a volatile meeting between a formidable European horn partnership and American free jazz royalty. In 2015, expat American saxophonist John Dikeman initiated a trio with bassist William Parker and drummer Hamid Drake. Five years later, he invited Portuguese trumpeter Luis Vicente to join them, resulting in the quartet heard here on its second album, following Goes Without Saying, But It's Got To Be Said (JACC Records, 2020). The reedman and brass player share ...