William Parker's recording career began in 1973 on ESP-Disk' -- Frank Lowe's Black Beings (ESPDISK 3013CD) -- and he returned to ESP in 2017 as a member of Mat Walerian's group Toxic with This Is Beautiful Because We Are Beautiful People (ESPDISK 5011CD). Now ESP-Disk' present a new William Parker album in collaboration with his wife Patricia Nicholson. No Joke! is unapologetically political, facing down injustice and inequality and other "in"s with artistic integrity and "outside" music. Personnel: William Parker - bass; James Brandon Lewis - tenor sax; Devin Brahja Waldman - alto sax; Francesco Mela - drums, vocals: Patricia Nicholson - spoken word; Melanie Dyer - viola; Gerald Cleaver - drums. All music by William Parker, centering music. All words by Patricia Nicholson except "Little Black Kid with the Swollen Stomach" by William Parker. Recorded and mixed at Park West Studios by Jim Clouse.

"He stands now as one of the most adventurous and prolific bandleaders in jazz." --David French, DownBeat

"William Parker pursues spirituality through hard work. He plays bass as if reaching heaven is a matter of steadily, repeatedly knocking until someone opens the door; he's one of the avant-garde jazz players most dedicated to the pursuit of higher purpose and heightened awareness in music, and he approaches it with a heavy, elemental tone." --Chris Dahlen, Pitchfork

"Patricia Nicholson... is also an outstanding poet and dancer." --Chris Tart, DownBeat

"William Parker is a towering figure in 21st century avant-garde music, widely recognised as a crucial link to the heart of free jazz, and a true heavyweight of the double bass." --Daniel Spicer, BBC