William Parker

3-CD SET - DIGIPACK EDITION

For Those Who Are, Still is a magnificent 3CD box set of new and previously unissued music from world-renowned composer-bassist William Parker. This set is comprised of four distinctly compelling long-form works – Parker’s first composition written for symphony orchestra performance; a commissioned piece for a standing new music ensemble; a “chamber-jazz” song series for voice / soprano sax / piano / bass; a composition created specifically for a particularly diverse Parker assemblage in Universal Tonality mode. The four works are linked by a focus on and greater adherence to William Parker’s written compositions; the depth and breadth of the resultant performances is astonishing. As ever in his four+ decades of profound output, improvisation of a very high order is a natural part and parcel of these multifarious expositions.

For Those Who Are, Still contains 3.5 hours of beautiful and potent music; each of the "mini-LP" style CD sleeves (and the box cover) feature commissioned paintings by gifted young artist Douglas Arnold.


CD1 - FOR FANNIE LOU HAMER + VERMEER

01   For Fannie Lou Hamer

Todd Reynolds: violin
Shiau-Shu Yu: cello
JD Parran: various winds
Sam Furnace: various winds
Ravi Best: trumpet
Masahiko Kono: trombone
Kathleen Supové: piano
Nicki Parrot: bass
JT Lewis: drums
Jim Pugliese: percussion
featuring Leena Conquest: voice

Recorded live at The Kitchen, NYC on October 28, 2000.

02   Vermeer  
03   Awash In The Midst of An Angel's Tears  
04   Essence  
05   Flower Song - Take 2  
06   Just Feel  
07   Feet As Roses  
08   Gongs For Deaf Dreams  
09   Sweet Breeze  
10   Flower Song - Take 1  

Leena Conquest: voice
Darryl Foster: soprano & tenor saxophone
Eri Yamamoto: piano
William Parker: bass, hocchiku

Recorded at The Gallery Recording Studio, Brooklyn on March 6, 2011.

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CD2 - RED GIRAFFE WITH DREADLOCKS:

01   Villages, Greetings and Prayer  
02   Souls Have Fallen Like Rain  
03   The Giraffe Dances  
04   Tour of The Flying Poem  
05   Children Drawing Water From The Well  
06   Where Do You Send The Poem  

Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay: voice, electronic shruti box
Mola Sylla: voice, m’bira, ngoni
Bill Cole: double-reed instruments
Rob Brown: alto saxophone
Klaas Hekman: bass saxophone, flute
Cooper-Moore: piano
William Parker: bass
Hamid Drake: drums

Recorded January 2012 in Paris, France.

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CD3 - CEREMONIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL

01   A Magical Figure Dances Barefoot in the Mud  
02   Light Shimmering Across a Field of Ice  
03   Trees With Wings  
04   Rise Up In Sound  
05   Humble Serious  
06   Tea Leaves of Triple Sadness  
07   Ritual  
08   Winter   
09   My Cup  
10   Encore  

NFM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, conducted by Jan Jakub Bokun with Soloists of NFM Choir and Charles Gayle: tenor & soprano saxophone, piano
William Parker: bass, doson ngoni, bamboo flutes
Mike Reed: drums

Recorded in premiere performance at the Jazztopad Festival,
Wroclaw, Poland on November 15, 2013.

11  Escapade For Sonny  

Charles Gayle: tenor saxophone
William Parker: bass
Mike Reed: drums
This trio improvisation preceded the premiere of Ceremonies.