William Parker
William Parker, born in the Bronx in 1952, is an American double bassist, multi-instrumentalist, poet and composer, and for four decades a central figure of free jazz in New York. He came up in the loft scene of the 1970s, spent the 1980s in Cecil Taylor's groups, then anchored the David S. Ware Quartet and led his own Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra and In Order to Survive. His playing rests on a tradition of self-expression and experiment; his arco work, dense streaks of colour drawn from the harmonics of the instrument, is the most personal side of his idiom.
Zo
Reissue of Zo, the first duo album by Matthew Shipp and William Parker, recorded in 1993, with an epic Summertime, on ESP-Disk'.
A Whole System Of
Matthew Shipp on piano and William Parker on bass in only their fourth duo album, the fruit of a four-decade friendship that began in the David S. Ware Quartet. Recorded in Brooklyn in June 2025, limited LP on Tao Forms.
Lifting The Sanctions
Solo acoustic bass by William Parker, recorded at Studio Spirale on November 29, 1997 with no overdubs; cover by Jeff Schlanger, painted live during the session. No More Records, 1998.
Black Beings (CD)
1990's Italian CD re-issue on ESP-Disk' / Abraxas of the 1973 album featuring Joseph Jarman and William Parker. With obi.
Synesthesia
*250 copies limited edition* The quartet of Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Bobby Kapp returns with Synesthesia, a new recording that captures their deep connection and evolving voice in contemporary free jazz. Following the acclaimed…
Keeping It In Context
On Keeping It In Context, Daniel Carter, Sabir Mateen, William Parker and Lou Grassi turn a 1996 Context Studios session into a blazing, deep‑listening workshop, with twin reeds, singing bass and restless drums stretching free jazz language without l…
Transcendent Universe
Pianist Joel Futterman and bassist William Parker deliver an epic improvisatory journey on this three-track, hour-long studio recording. Futterman and Parker have worked together in duo and group contexts since the 1980s, and their deep creative bon…
Beyond Quantum
Anthony Braxton, Milford Graves and William Parker are quite literally three of the most important virtuoso instrumentalists in new music, each a vivid conceptualist as well an influential composer/perf o rm e r. This intense improvisational outing f…
Godspelized
1996 release ** Gatefold caedboard sleeve with insert (no OBI). The title is a play on the non-existent word "gospelized." This is Ware's most overt attempt at acknowledging the influence of Albert Ayler, not only on his playing style, but also on hi…
Every Dog Has Its Day But It Doesn't Matter Because Fat Cat Is Getting Fatter
This is Mr. Mat Walerian's fourth album as a leader, all on ESP-Disk'. He also appears in the Matthew Shipp Quartet on the album Sonic Fiction (ESPDISK 5018CD, 2018). Credits: Mat Walerian - alto saxophone, bass clarinet, soprano clarinet, flute; Mat…
The Ancients
Bomb! The debut recording by The Ancients, the intergenerational coalition of Isaiah Collier, William Hooker and William Parker formed by Parker to play concerts in conjunction with the Milford Graves' “A Mind-Body Deal” exhibition at the Institute o…
Echoes
2007 release ** ""Echoes," a 2006 live quintet featuring Olivieri alongside Innarella on saxophone, Battiston on piano, and the prodigious rhythm section of Parker and Drake. A pulsating energy that free avant-garde revisits with a distinctive, moder…
Harras
1995 release (no OBI) ** "A stellar trio of free improvisers, each respective kings of the avant-garde jazz scene in different capacities. British improvisation legend Derek Bailey has played with practically every musician of note in the European im…
Welcome Adventure! Vol. 1
2025 stock Are you ready for magic? The master musicians Daniel Carter, Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Gerald Cleaver will provide access with this album, the first they have released after playing together for decades.
Daniel Carter has been coll…
At Somewhere There
2010 release ** "This is certainly not William Parker's first solo album, he already released "Lifting The Sanctions", "Testimony" and "Painter's Autumn", but this is the first one on which he doesn't play pizzicato, using his bow for the first and l…
Through Acceptance Of The Mystery Peace: The Music Of William Parker
1998 release ** "This recording is an important part of bassist William Parker's early discography and comprises four ensemble pieces. The sound quality is slightly subpar, but the raw, 1960s feel of this album should appeal to those who appreciate t…
A Hero's Welcome: Pieces For Rare Occasions
2025 stock Alan Silva's playing and live composition have been a highlight of the avant garde's living history for the past 35+ years. from his work with sun ra's arkestra, through extended relationships with Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, and Albert Ayle…
Raincoat In The River Vol.1 / ICA Concert
2025 stock Marvin Nunez, aka “Uncle Marvin,” was one of the few tenor saxophone players who explored the world of sub-tone music. A world of whispers heralded by vibrations so low and subtle they could not be heard by the naked ear. We don’t hear the…
Voices In The First Person Volume 2
Throughout his life as an artist of increasing renown, William Parker has always made it a point to shine light on those who do not as often receive recognition for their work, and from whose work Parker has found resonance with & received inspiratio…
Bakunawa
Andrew Barker - drums, percussion William Parker - bass, b flat pocket tuba, gralla Jon Irabagon - tenor saxophone, sopranino saxophone
Recorded by Andrew Barker January 3rd, 2022 at Phantom Ear Studio, Brooklyn, NY.Mixed by Andrew Barker.Mastered …