[AUM015/16] - Download includes extensive PDF booklet
William Parker: leader, composer; bass (4, 5, 7-9, 11); piano (1, 6, 10)
> trumpets:
Roy Campbell (2-4, 6-9, 11), Lewis Barnes (1, 4-11),
Richard Rodriguez (1-11)
> trombones:
Masahiko Kono (1-11), Steve Swell (1-11), Alex Lodico (1-11)
> soprano saxophones:
Darryl Foster [+tenor saxophone] (1-11), Chris Jonas (1-11)
> alto saxophones:
Rob Brown [+flute] (2-4, 9-11), Ori Kaplan (1-11),
> and
Charles Waters [+clarinet] (1-11)
Dave Sewelson: baritone sax (2-4, 6-9, 11)
Dave Hofstra: tuba (1, 4, 5, 9-11); bass (2, 3)
Andrew Barker: drums (2-4, 6-9, 11)
Cooper-Moore: piano (2, 3)
Aleta Hayes: voice (2)
Little Huey's return to disc! The Orchestra's third season of sound.. Bassist–composer–poet–benevolent leader William Parker held a monthly residency in the summer/fall of 1999 with his 16-member strong Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra at the NYC performance space, Tonic. These shows were all recorded, and this majestic selector set was the resultant offering. The 2-CD also featured a rich 12-page booklet full of William's writings on this music & much more. As William Parker embodies so many of the beliefs that the existence of AUM Fidelity is predicated on, may that day arrive sooner when folks on a mass scale awake to what he and fellow blessed compatriots are offering.
"William Parker's Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra is always a full-on tour de force of composition and large ensemble improvisation. Recorded at live appearances throughout [the latter half of] 1999, this is a monster album. That's in both performance and composition. Pieces like 'James Baldwin to the Rescue' capture a spirit and sound matched only by Sun Ra's Arkestra, with Aleta Hayes' soaring voice approximating the soulful croon of June Tyson. '3 Steps To Noh Mountain' is divided perfectly into three sections, the first a slow, prodding, beautiful marching theme, the third adding an eastern melody strain to a different melodic marching theme, creating a mood not far from the Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra's finest moments. The title track might be Little Huey's most epic work to date: over thirty minutes of varying themes, stunning free playing and dazzling interplay. Nothing short of monumental." –Phil Waldorf, Other Music
An excerpt from William Parker's liner notes:
"There is a castle that is made entirely of light. In its windows we can see the many faces of tone. They await the arrival of the angel Gabriel who stands at the door of the spirit room. It holds a trumpet made of red ebony. This trumpet when sounded will be different from the previous one. You will be able to smell the soil, leaves and dust. You will be able to hear the oceans and the singing of doves. You will be able to see the reflections of all the forgotten ones. As you see them their memory will be implanted in your heart. It begins to rain music all over the world. Everyone is soaked in sound. What would happen if the world leaders along with the media decided to tell the truth. Would the axis of the earth shift? What would happen if we put the life of someone we don't know ahead of money, vanity and the value of property? What is that called?"
1. Interlude #1 (The Next Phase) - 04:00
2. James Baldwin To The Rescue - 18:26
3. Oglala Eclipse - 19:47
4. I Can't Believe I Am Here - 28:50
5. Interlude #7 (Huey's Blues) - 05:23
6. 3 Steps To Nøh Mountain – Departure - 05:08
7. 3 Steps To Nøh Mountain – Soft Wheel - 05:22
8. 3 Steps To Nøh Mountain – Laughing Eyes And Dancing Hearts - 03:45
9. The Mayor Of Punkville - 30:51
10. Interlude #8 (Holy Door) - 06:01
11. Anthem - 13:07
All compositions by William Parker, © Centering Music (BMI)
Produced by William Parker and Steven Joerg
Recorded Live at Tonic, NYC, 1999, during Little Huey's third full season of sound on Nov 27 (1, 5, 10), Sept 4 (4, 9, 11), Aug 14 (6-8)
by Steven Joerg and July 10: (2, 3) by James McLean
Mastered By Chris Flam At Mindswerve
Cover Painting By Lois Eby
Liner notes by William Parker