William Parker – Waltz For Gregory

[ CENT1035 ]

CD – deluxe 6-panel digipak, printed on heavyweight-stock reverse board, featuring liner notes & track annotation by William Parker.
/ Special Edition of 500 copies /

William Parker: composer, lyricist, producer

Andrea Wolper: vocals

Bruce Barth: piano

Melissa Almaguer: tap dance on 'Waltz For Gregory'

Jim Ferraiuolo: oboe, alto sax

Steve Swell: trombone

Ken Filiano: bass

Kevin Murray: drums

Waltz For Gregory (being, tap dancer-singer-actor Gregory Hines) is yet another wonderfully distinct creation from one of America’s Great Artists of the last half century, William Parker. Parker is in composer-lyricist-producer mode here – a mode abundantly presented on his acclaimed 2021 10CD/Album box set release, Migration of Silence Into and Out of The Tone World.

This album is akin; likewise beautifully realized by an inter-generational quintet of exceptionally gifted musicians. The title suite wonderfully features the new young phenom of tap dance, Melissa Almaguer. Featured throughout is vocalist Andrea Wolper, who voiced Lights in The Rain (the Italian Directors Suite), an album within Migration of Silence.

Also herein are a ballad for filmmaker Chantal Akerman, a voice/piano/oboe piece dedicated to Joseph Jarman, and the deeply moving "Ukraine" which is dedicated to the children of all wars. Total compassion for sentient beings with love in their hearts is on illuminated display throughout, as it effusively is throughout Parker’s work. To this again we give thanks and praise while listening to this singular and gorgeous work.

William Parker’s song-craft & productions thereof were first pointedly put forth in his equally lauded Voices Fall From The Sky 3CD box set of 2018, which was hailed for the eternal nature of its beauty. 

1. Waltz for Gregory - 14:27

2. The Golden Light of Love - 04:47

3. Chantal - 02:55

4. Joy Joy - 07:10

5. Joseph (where stones sleep) - 09:33

6. Ukraine - 08:56

7. Heal the Broken World Trombone - 09:24

All compositions & lyrics by William Parker, © Centering Music (BMI)

Produced by William Parker

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jim Clouse

at Park West Studios, Brooklyn

Paintings of Gregory Hines and Chantal Akerman

by Douglas Arnold

Layout/design by Ming@AUM