Bio
William Parker bassist, multi-instrumentalist, author, composer, librettist Born 1952 Bronx, New York -
William Parker is a composer, bassist and multi-instrumentalist, an author and educator who has recorded over 40 albums as a leader that feature a range of concepts, and ensembles from solo bass, quartets, sextets, large ensembles such as the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, as well as special projects such as The Essence Of Ellington. The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield etc. He has composed music for The Wroclaw Symphony Orchestra as well as host of commissions by large and small ensembles. He has composed music and librettos for numerous multi-media operas such as Trail of Tears, Vision Peace and Battle Cries, Mass for the Healing World in addition to hundreds of pieces of vocal music. All of Parker’s music incorporates his concept of Universal Tonality. They all include improvisational languages and possibilities.
Outside of performing in his own work, Mr. Parker toured and recorded with Jeanne Lee, Cecil Taylor, Milford Graves, Don Cherry, Bill Dixon, Peter Brotzmann, Derek Bailey, John Zorn, Rashied Ali, Charles Gayle, Jimmy Lyons, Billy Bang, Roy Campbell jr, Daniel Carter, Cooper Moore, David S. Ware, Sonny Murray, Jemeel Moondoc, Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Oliver Lake, Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Enrico Rava, Grachan Moncur III, The Art Ensemble Of Chicago. He has also collaborated with poets Amiri Baraka, Allen Ginsburg, Miguel Pinero, David Budbill ,Fred Moten and Anne Waldman. Mr. Parker composes music for dance productions collaborating with choreographer Patricia Nicholson among others. Mr. Parker has taught workshops and residencies at NYU, Bennington College, Stanford University, The New School as well as universities and conservatories in various cities in Europe.
William Parker has developed a reputation as a connector and hub of information concerning the history of creative music. He has had seven books covering philosophy, poetry, and the history of creative music and improvisation. Who Own’s Music, Music and the Shadow people, Scrapbook, The mayor Of Punkville and The Conversations books - Volumes 1-3.
A few Recent Highlights:
In 2021, the 10 cd Box set, “The Music of William Parker - Migration Of Silence Into And Out Of The Tone World” was released on Centering Music.
Duke University Press published William Parker biography “Universal Tonality” written by Cisco Bradley.
“Music And The Shadow People”, Mr. Parker’s tone poem, was performed in Toronto in January 2022 with musicians and actors.
The multi-media piece “Trail of Tears” was presented at Sons d’Hiver in February 2022.
