William Parker - Universal Tonality

Label: Centering Records, 2022

Personnel - Rob Brown: alto saxophone; Daniel Carter: reeds, brass; Cale Brandley: tenor saxophone; Grachan Moncur Ill: trombone; Steve Swell: trombone; Matt Lavelle: trumpet; Jin Hi Kim: komungo; Miya Masaoka: koto; Billy Bang: violin; Jason Kao Hwang: violin; Joe Morris: guitar;  Dave Burrell: piano; Leena Conquest: voice;  Jerome Cooper: balafon, chiramía, keys, drums; Roger Blank: balafon; William Parker: bass, dilruba, shakuhachi, donso’ngoni; Gerald Cleaver: drums.

Recorded at NYC’s Roulette on December 2002, Universal Tonality is a double-disc spectacle of enchanting sounds delivered by 16 musicians of different ages, cultures and backgrounds. That night, the bandleader - incredible bassist, composer and activist William Parker - provided an illustrated score that allowed plenty of freedom to the interpreters, in an attempt to make them “breathe together”. The words of protest and unity he wrote are declared with passion by vocalist Leena Conquest, and the performance counted with iconic names of the avant-garde jazz scene, some of them no longer among us like the violinist Billy Bang and trombonist Grachan Moncur III.

Putting a lot of commitment and intention in everything he does, Parker starts off this thematic excursion with “Tails of a Peacock”, where a sturdy bass figure announces the inspiring modal jazz to come. And it brings as much impact as spirituality. Playing concurrently for most of the time, the horn players come and go one after another, creating a spirited improvisational feast that is never static. This creative freedom is suspended for the time that Conquest sings “there’s a way to survive; hope is relentless, it will never die.”

Clocking in at more than half an hour, “Cloud Texture” speaks about vital musicians as well as tumults and injustices in the American history. It’s a smooth procession filled with emotional cries. There are quick stops for the decorous bowed strings of Bang and Jason Kao Hwang, horn-driven detail, and a far-flung finale with shakuhachi flute, koto and balafon.

Leaves Gathering” sweeps like the wind; with lightness, at first, but then densifying in texture as it moves forward. We can easily discern the funky wah guitar of Joe Morris erupting from the instrumental mesh. This is before a cadenced strut is installed, anchored by an odd bass groove that invites the horns into a polyphonic cacophony. “Silver Sunshine” begins percussively with cymbals, gongs and chiramias, before a relentless melodic motif expressed in parallel gets stuck in your head, under a breezy swing. Moncur III is featured on this track. The opus comes to a conclusion with “Open System One”, offering some ecstatic blowing from the saxophonists Daniel Carter, Rob Brown and Cale Brandley. 

William Parker’s albums are never frivolous or gratuitous; his message is always meaningful and incisive. Universal Tonality hands over a nicely-balanced aesthetic construct with enough substance for the excellent cast of musicians sink their teeth into.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Tails of a Peacock ► 03 - Leaves Gathering ► 04 - 06 -