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William Parker, Ellen Christi: Cereal Music

By Alberto Bazzurro
October 1, 2024
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William Parker, Ellen Christi: Cereal Music

William Parker ci ha regalato nel corso degli anni (in particolare da quando la sua stella, ormai intorno ai cinquanta, ha iniziato a brillare di luce particolarmente marcata) opere importantissime, a suo solo nome o in collaborazione con altri. Ciò precisato per chiarire subito che questo suo nuovo lavoro non appartiene a tale schiera. Vi trova posto una narrazione spesso farraginosa che ripercorre la vita del bassista, con intromissioni—per lo più salvifiche—da parte di Ellen Christi, cofirmataria dell'opera, e altri più episodicamente.

Il risultato è un album alquanto indigesto, che ci sentiremmo di consigliare solo ai patiti—i cosiddetti "completisti"—del bassista newyorchese, importante unicamente—almeno a parere di chi scrive—come puro e semplice documento. Per tutto il resto aspettiamo fiduciosi il prossimo capitolo di una discografia da un po' di anni decisamente imponente.

Molto felice, per chiudere, la copertina, opera dello stesso Parker, nonché il sound design globale, dovuto invece alla cantante.

Track Listing

Ode to Kidd Jordan; Baseball; Birth; Death; Do Dreams Sleep; Ellen and Leaves Floating; Plea; Into My Heart; Touring; Sonny; Uninvited Guest; We Were Very Civilized; Batala; Windshield Wipers; Prayer.

Personnel

William Parker

bass

Ellen Christi

vocals

Steve Swell

trombone

Bea Labikova

saxophone, alto

Dave Sewelson

saxophone, baritone

Additional Instrumentation

William Parker: recitation,flute, shakuhachi; Ellen Christi: vocals (#1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15); Steve Swell: trombone (#4); Bea Labikova: alto saxophone (#5, 6) Dave Sewelson: vocals (#12); The Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra (#4, 8, 10, 14).

Album information

Title: Cereal Music | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: AUM Fidelity

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