Evan Parker Poll and discussion

john williams · June-26th-2003, 04:18 AM

The poll is really just an excuse to get some fresh discussion going on Evan Parker recordings. I haven't heard a lot of discussion about Evan on the new board. I have taken the recordings in the poll straight from AMG so forgive any ommissions. There are a number of recordings here I've never heard of and get low ratings on AMG and I am interested to hear about some of these more obscure recordings.

I am probably a relative newbie to EP and only have a handful of recordings.

50th Birthday Concert
2x3=5
After Appleby
Synergetics Phonomonie III
Nailed
Drawn Inward
At the Vortex
Foxes Fox (on order)

I ticked the multiple choice box as there are so many albums, but I don't know if it will effect the poll adversely. 30 days only.

Shrugs: I am certain you have an out of print EP album probably on vinyl not included here. Apologies in advance.

Evan Parker interview-
http://www.monastery.nl/bulletin/parker/parker.html

"Monastery: Your music never seems agitated or restless. Even when there's a lot going on, you always sound very - well, peaceful.

EP: That's very nice. Thank you. If you see it like that, then I'm pleased, because that's how I feel."

walto · June-26th-2003, 07:01 AM

Man, what a glorious output!

I went with "Nailed."

lazarus · June-26th-2003, 07:43 AM

I love many of his recordings but if I have to chose one I take a solorecording. Monoceros!!!

john williams · June-26th-2003, 07:46 AM

You don't have to choose one - its multiple choice, but once you've voted that's it.

shrugs · June-26th-2003, 07:56 AM

re: lp's
Yeah there is one on Paul Lovens' label Po Torch that is pretty damn great. But it's only available on lp so I won't mention it.

I would probably go with Monoceros as well. or At The Vortex.

Douglas · June-26th-2003, 08:14 AM

At the Vortex and Nailed get my vote, being the discs I listen to most often. But I like a lot of these recordings.

Brian Olewnick · June-26th-2003, 09:29 AM

I went with 'Most Materiall'--I actually enjoy 'Nailed' even more but I think of it as a Cecil recording.

My fave Parker, though, has generally been as a collaborator or sideman rather than as a "leader" (aside from those mentioned above, 'Dark Rags' for example, or his work with the LJCO). I first heard him on that early Music Improvisation Company album on ECM which pretty much baffled me at the time. I did get to see him perform on what was (I recently verified this when I had the chance to speak with him for a couple of hours this past April) his first US appearance, a solo gig at Environ in 1977. In the intervening years between the MIC and this, he'd gotten to his "mature" phase, the intense circular breathing epics, and I was pretty much blown away; never heard anything like that before. But I have to say that on his own, I've not heard him particularly get past that point. I find his work these days generally good but unexceptional in the sense of treading old ground. It's only when he's in the company of people like the AMM crew that he seems to really get pushed out of his comfort zones. I was intially excited about the electro-acoustic work, but that's faded over the years. I did like 'Lines Burnt in Light' very much though, again, part of me was saying, "Well, yeah, but we've heard this before, haven't we?" When I was talking to him, he mentioned that one of the differences between himself and the AMM school of improv was that he still basically considers himself an 'entertainer'. While I, of course, respect his decision to deal with his art as he sees fit, I just get less and less interested in being "entertained".

Vince Kargatis · June-26th-2003, 09:37 AM

I went ahead and checked quite a few - the ones that immediately struck me as those I'd miss not having.

His solo work can still surprise me - I saw him do a solo circ breathing tenor solo in Athens a couple years ago that blew me and everyone else in the room away.

blawless · June-26th-2003, 10:19 AM

I've declined to vote because I've heard maybe a third of the list, and my favorite at the moment, Pakistani Pomade, doesn't appear. Brian, yes, I think you're right, as awful as I feel saying it--there is a rote quality now to those circular-breathing acrobatics. On nearly every soprano outing of his these days, you know that, sooner or later, he's going to wheel out that hypnotic spinning wheel. I can't say the performances themselves are uninspired--c'mon, the guy is never less than brilliant--but to me there's a shtick-like quality to the technique. I keep returning to Sankt Gerold because here it seems like he's keeping routine impulses in check and listening to his partners at one or two higher notches of sensitivity than usual, which in his case is really saying a lot. (I haven't heard Time Will Tell, but I'm dying to.)

Once I almost started a thread here for confessing one's iconoclastic feelings about the albums that everyone seems to agree are either magnificent or terrible. The impetus was--pile on, guys--Nailed. I love (love, love!) everyone involved, and the individual performances are fine. But to my ears it's way too crowded and crabbed, definitely not one of those so-typically-hoped-for "light and shade" situations. I've gone back to it again and again, waiting for the epiphany--I've really trusted you people on this, I really have--but I'm always disappointed.

al j · June-26th-2003, 10:31 AM

Man, the hierarchy of sax talent as I see it took a loop-de-loop after hearing Tom Chant play the other night. There is a disturbance in the force.

I think I'd vote for MIC if it was up there. And I love, crude as it is, Evan's playing on Machine Gun.

blawless · June-26th-2003, 10:46 AM

Tom Chant! Yes! I recorded his online performance with Eddie Prevost at the 2001 Freedom of the City shindig and I listen to it every chance I get. He's really a commanding player.

MRS · June-26th-2003, 12:44 PM

Like someone else said. . .I haven't heard many of these. In light of my love of "At the Vortex," "Conic Sections" and much of "Unity Variations," I think "Most Materiall" is one of the chief testaments to free/improvised musics, period. On top of that, it's an unqualified delight to listen to, again and again.

Frisco · June-26th-2003, 02:40 PM

I voted for quite a few. Never heard an Evan parker recording or performance that I didn't like, despite the low AMG grades for some. I never heard this one listed called "Evan Parker Sucks" though. How many grades did AMG give that one?

Captain Hate · June-26th-2003, 07:14 PM

I voted for The Needles but probably only because its so fresh on my mind; what a body of output!! I have GOT to see this guy some day!!

Does anybody beside me like True Live Walnuts??

john williams · June-26th-2003, 08:35 PM

I am pleased to see some folks saying some of EP's release are becoming a bit samey. The last few I have bought I have thought, like Brian, that I've heard this before. I really started to get interested in EP after hearing Sankt Gerold and it is still my favorite.

However, OTOH there is perhaps no other musician I get a feeling of catharsis from than Evan Parker, except perhaps Trane.

Quote:

I keep returning to Sankt Gerold because here it seems like he's keeping routine impulses in check and listening to his partners at one or two higher notches of sensitivity than usual, which in his case is really saying a lot.

Me too and I agree, and I ordered Time Will Tell because of my love for SG, however, I don't think it is anywhere near as good. I am also a big fan of 50th birthday even though some folks around here think it needed to be shorter and it only gets interesting in the last few minutes. I too prefer the more restrained EP than the frantic. Nailed is played amazingly but I often turn it off before its finished, it just doesn't hold my interest.

Foxes Fox arrived in the mail today and I will be interested to hear how different it is from other EP releases. I have never heard any of the other musicians on this album so hopefully it will be fresh.

Sergio Zamora · June-26th-2003, 10:24 PM

Hey everybody!!

At the Vortex, baby!

Brian Olewnick · June-27th-2003, 08:49 AM

I get the sense thaat Oscar's posts are going to take on a Lund-like quality over the next couple of months.

Steve Reynolds · June-27th-2003, 09:08 AM

At The Vortex, baby!!!

close over the great 2 CD set, Most Materiall

shrugs · June-27th-2003, 09:21 AM

I need to get Most Materiall. The past 3 times I have gone to DMG they were out of it. Time to make an order with Verge.

MRS · June-27th-2003, 09:23 AM

Yeah Dave just order "Most Materiall" and the Reijseger/Sclavis and you'll be fine

Clancy's in 2 weeks????????

shrugs · June-27th-2003, 09:30 AM

I would love to go to Clancy's but I haven't moved back to N'awlins yet. Are you heading down that way this Christmas?

MRS · June-27th-2003, 09:36 AM

It can be arranged easily. . .as long as it's okay w/Lady Hub that we get very intoxicated and listen to Hodges all night long.

"Rejecting Simple Enumeration"

Martin · June-27th-2003, 11:14 AM

I feel very proud (and privileged) to own all the recordings included in this poll (and still it is a highly selective list, given the enormous number of LPs/CDs EP has released in the last three and a half decades +).

You see, I didn't start to collect records only yesterday. ;-)

Tom K · June-27th-2003, 05:03 PM

I don't really know him all that well, but I remember how, when I heard his feature on a Globe Unity recording of the late 1970s, I was blown away. However, in the meantime I have heard him in a number of settings, and it was always that ultra-fast, circularly breathed feature with endless runs, mostly on soprano sax - so by now, I'm sorry to say, my reaction is something like, "OK, fine, I know, but why not have something new for a change?" Or maybe this is what he means by being an entertainer?

Rob C · June-27th-2003, 05:15 PM

I've got only a handful of these, but I had to go with After Appleby as the sentimental choice, because it was the first one I heard. Also because it's great.

Captain Hate · June-27th-2003, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Martin
I feel very proud (and privileged) to own all the recordings included in this poll (and still it is a highly selective list, given the enormous number of LPs/CDs EP has released in the last three and a half decades +).

You see, I didn't start to collect records only yesterday. ;-)

I am extremely impressed, Martin!! Since you've heard them all, which did you vote for? And have you heard True Live Walnuts (since nobody else will give me an answer!!).

Martin · June-28th-2003, 11:06 AM

Captain,

I didn't vote at all yet, since it is a most demanding task to select one or a few "best ofs" out of a list that long. Indeed, I heard them all - with one temporary exception: my copy of the CD re-edition of "Unity Theatre" (with extra material previously not available) arrived just this past week, but, of course, I listened to the old Incus LP many many times. I'll be thinking about voting, ok?

I never intended to tell you this, as all of you will think this freaky Martin from Germany has gone totally nuts (probably you're right): Evan Parker is the musician most heavily featured in my CD/LP collection (no.2 is Evan's alter ego 'til the early 80s - guess who! -, no.3 is Mr.Braxton). Here is the complete listing (216 entries):

... no no no, I can't do that. Takes too much time and ain't of no use for anyone. But the number of 216 is correct!

True Live Walnuts: It's been quite some time since I listened to this one last (alongside the companion CD by this particular trio); my general impression is that Parker and Orselli are better suited to each other than Parker and Salis. And yet: IMO, it's exactly Salis (the "odd" element out) who is responsible for some uncommon music (in relation of Parker's specific language and modes of operation). Altogether, a like- and listenable disc; to my tastes "good", though maybe not "great".

Captain Hate · June-28th-2003, 11:29 AM

Martin,

216 is an incredible number!! I am in awe of that and I think I'll use it for the next time Mrs. Hate mentions how many recordings I have(which she's pretty much stopped doing; perhaps realizing that it only spurs me to get more). I'll take a guess (and I may be wildly off) that Brotzmann is #2 in your collection.

I pretty much agree with your take on True Live Walnuts; I think its one of EP's quirkier releases and I love how they segue into Naima at the end after everything that came before.

Memo to self: Check Martin's age and then start a campaign to be put in his will.

Jon Abbey · June-28th-2003, 11:57 AM

so, Martin, how many LPs/CDs do you have in your collection as a whole? I have about 6300 CDs and a couple of hundred LPs, although I'm hoping to sell at least a thousand of those in the near future. just curious...

haven't voted yet, I'm much less into Mr. Parker than I used to be (although I do own most of these). maybe Monoceros and Dark Rags (although that's not listed)...

Captain Hate · June-28th-2003, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Abbey
haven't voted yet, I'm much less into Mr. Parker than I used to be (although I do own most of these). maybe Monoceros and Dark Rags (although that's not listed)...

Check again, Jon; Dark Rags has gotten two votes.