Lucs Lantern

William Parker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thirsty Ear
• ASIN: B0007NMJWM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #428,345 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars melodic, tender, and strong, March 25, 2005

By 

Matthew Rosecan "Mr. Pink" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lucs Lantern (Audio CD)

Wow, for those who know William Parker's music well, this definitely seems, on the surface at least, like a very different style for him. The focus here is on 4-5 minute songs, very melodic, slow to mid-tempo, with one fast tempo- not the boundless energy, inventiveness, creativity, and stamina of his orchestra, quartet, or many other projects. In a way, this album is a collection of short stories. Of course, it is still extremely creative and inventive, too, just in less obvious, cleaner, and maybe more mainstream, ways.

The cover of the album portrays a dark field with black trees that grow purple and white teeth(as Parker says in the liner notes), and a lantern hanging down. In a way, maybe this album is like a dark, mysterious, small corner of Mr. Parker's musical mind, always present, but not usually brought to the forefront.

It is true that there is very little soloing from Mr. Parker on this album, and that in no way detracts from it. Bass solos would have definitely sounded out of place on this album. Nearly every other of the dozens of Parker albums have extended solos from him- and, by the way, you should buy those, too.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The mystery of William Parker, September 30, 2006

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lucs Lantern (Audio CD)

As the reviews on this page make manifest, there is no little controversy about this enigmatic disc.

Certainly, it bears slight resemblence to Parker's large ensemble discs, The Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra; nor does it sound much like his stuff with Hamid Drake.

But isn't this a guy who's essentially impossible to pin down? What about his Die Like a Dog project? Or Eloping with the Sun? Or Long Hidden: The Olmec Series? Or Palm of Soul with Kidd Jordan and Hamid Drake?

Me, I'm entirely taken with the plodding pianisms of Eri Yamamoto. To me they mesh perfectly with the vibe going down here: skewed mainstreamisms. Really, this isn't about killer solos; it's about reconfiguring the piano trio for the 21st century. I'm blown away by the smart, noirish, postmodern sensibilities insouciantly brandished throughout this remarkable disc. Yes, there's a kind of world-weariness, a kind of Georgia O'Keefe blanched-out etiolation. But doesn't that just serve to highlight the blasted emotional vistas we are experiencing in face of maddened terrorists and problematic responses from the West?

I think so.

Look.

We need a lantern to light our way. Why not sign on to the one William Parker provides, Luc's Latern?

Why not indeed?

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Parker plays it straight, March 22, 2005

By 

Troy Collins (Lancaster, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lucs Lantern (Audio CD)

"Luc's Lantern" is a bit of an anomaly in bassist William Parker's ever growing catalog. Having recorded in every conceivable format ranging from his own free jazz big band to duets with percussionist Hamid Drake, this album actually marks a first for the veritable jazz renaissance man. It is not merely a piano trio recording sans his usual cohorts; pianist Matt Shipp and the aforementioned Hamid Drake, but a straight ahead take on this venerable genre warhorse. However, because it is a Parker album, there are a few twists and turns to keep things interesting.

Newcomers Eri Yamamoto, pianist and drummer Michael Thompson were suggested as recording companions by Parker's longtime associate and Thirsty Ear Blue Series curator Matt Shipp. Fortunately the new chemistry between them is solid and an enjoyable document has been forged. Focusing primarily on short, melancholy set pieces, this introspective album is Parker's first real release of conventionally traditional material. There are a few exceptions though. "Jaki" is a swinging post-bop number, with "Bud in Alphaville" a fine tribute to the master pianist. Only on the title track does the trio launch into more aggressive territory, and then does so with aplomb.

The only real complaint one could find with this album is in Parker's own playing. Allowing the new members of his trio the lion's share of the solo space leaves little room for Parker to actually step out on his own. While his decision to allot more solo space to his new band mates is admirable, it would be nice to hear a bit more from Parker himself. That said, the album is still a solid release and possibly the best place for more mainstream minded fans to enter Parker's unique musical worldview.