Evan Parker

Evan Parker's iconic career as a saxophone (soprano and tenor) soloist has, over the years, broken ground on the very nature of expression on the instrument. This recording is a moment in time caught in Vancouver, comprised of two 17-plus-minute tour de forces, released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of Canada's premiere venues for creative music: the Western Front. Parker employs a minimalist approach to density and rhythm in an astounding range of sounds, and a superhuman physical virtuosity that leaves the listener gasping for breath. But this isn't some vain exercise in technical virtuosity. The nuances of exploration and subtle events that occupy the sheets of sound, as well as the thoughtful interludes, speak of a thoroughly compositional sensibility and dedication to presence. This type of music from such a musician is rare indeed, speaking to the limitless possibilities of human expression.