William Parker

Some of the most amazing work we've ever heard from this legendary bassist – a set that's not based around music from a wooden flute, but which instead refers to the instrument in its title – as an illustration of the very organic approach of the work within! A 8CD box set of all previously unissued recordings by world-renowned bassist-composer-bandleader William Parker, a 2013 recipient of the Doris Duke Foundation's Artist Award. Parker is a wonderfully prolific composer, and over half of the compositions will make their debut on record here as well, including CDs six, seven, and eight which feature entirely new work. The deluxe eight CD box contains nine hours of fully lit performances captured in high fidelity, and a 24 page booklet with extensive notes and key images. It is printed in a limited edition of 1500 copies. At the center of Wood Flute Songs is the 13 years long-standing William Parker Quartet, featuring drummer Hamid Drake, alto saxophonist Rob Brown, and trumpeter Lewis Barnes. These four musicians appear on each album, in both core and expanded form together with special guests Billy Bang, Bobby Bradford, James Spaulding, Cooper-Moore, Eri Yamamoto, Leena Conquest, and members of the Association for the Encouragement of Improvised Music (AMR) based in Geneva, Switzerland.