Jazz Articles about William Parker and Hamid Drake

William Parker and Hamid Drake: Volume 1: Piercing the Veil

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

A common myth says that holy men must speak in tongues. Take a quick six-minute tour through “Chatima," the second tune on Piercing the Veil, and you'll learn that these two high priests of free improvisation can rock 'n' roll with the best of 'em. Hamid Drake, the eight-armed bandit of jazz percussion, starts the tune off with a cymbal-driven beat. William Parker enters on arco bass, punching out riffs and playing offbeat counterpoint. As the tune builds in intensity, ...