Universal Tonality News Today

William Parkers Universal Tonality is a recording he has been holding in his back pocket for just about 20 years now, which is crazy because its so good.

Loyal followers of jazz activist, visionary, poet, and multi-instrumentalist William Parker are doubtlessly already aware of the book, his biography

Loyal followers of jazz activist, visionary, poet, and multi-instrumentalist William Parker are doubtlessly already aware of the book, his biography

Multi-instrumentalist and composer William Parker Few musicians on the planet can convey a sense of physicality more effectively than William Parker — the multi-instrumentalist and composer best recognized as a titan on upright bass, especially in the flowing continuum of experimental jazz. So it comes as welcome news that the Vision Festival, over which he always presides as a benevolent guide, will return in person this summer, beginning July 22 at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. (He will it ki...

William Parker As spring rolls on and we inch closer to summer, this week’s roundup continues the trend of adding more in-real-life events to the list of online offerings. William Parker Book Launch and Concert | May 15 In celebration of the recent publication of his biography, Universal Tonality: The Life and Music of William Parker (written by Cisco Bradley), local jazz and experimental music organization Elysium Furnace Works will present a r...

Intended Audience(s): Public Categories: Arts, Lectures & Seminars William Parker is a bassist, composer and community organizer widely recognized as a foundational figure in avant-jazz over the past several decades, with important collaborations with Cecil Taylor, Amiri Baraka, David S. Ware and many others. He is also a historian and scholar, and author of three important books of musician-to-musician interviews.  Cisco Bradley is a professor of American History at Pratt and the author of an...

Cisco Bradley 12 February 2021 Bassist, composer, and scene-maker William Parker has a colossal figure in creative music since the 1970s, particularly as a musician who has defined the sound of New York beyond the mainstream. His range is astonishing, but so is his focus. His recorded output is vast, particularly lately. Shying away from dealing with it all is understandable. Parker’s recordings as a leader exceed 100 albums, with sideman work—particularly with Cecil Taylor, Charles Gayle, ...