Evan Parker
Evan Parker
================
Full Name and Common Aliases
--------------------------------
Born Evan Parker on April 5, 1944, in Bristol, England, he is commonly known as a saxophonist, composer, and improviser.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Born: April 5, 1944
Still active in the music industry
Nationality and Profession(s)
---------------------------------
English, Musician (Saxophonist), Composer, Improviser
Early Life and Background
------------------------------
Parker grew up in a musical family. His father was an engineer who played jazz piano, and his mother sang folk songs. Parker began playing the saxophone at age 15 and attended Bristol Cathedral Choir School before studying music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Major Accomplishments
---------------------------
Pioneering Free Improvisation: Parker is recognized as a key figure in developing free improvisation, a style that emphasizes spontaneous creation over formal structure.
Long-Term Collaborations: He has maintained long-term collaborations with fellow musicians such as John Stevens, Barry Guy, and Paul Lytton, among others.
Establishing the Spontaneous Music Ensemble (SME): Parker co-founded SME in 1965 with John Stevens, which played a crucial role in shaping the UK's free improvisation scene.Notable Works or Actions
-----------------------------
Parker has released numerous albums throughout his career. Some notable works include:
'Incarnation' (1971) - A live album showcasing Parker's work with SME.
* 'The Ladder' (1985) - An album featuring collaborations with musicians such as John Stevens and Peter Brötzmann.
Impact and Legacy
------------------------
Evan Parker has had a profound impact on the world of free improvisation. His innovative approach to music-making has inspired generations of musicians, including notable figures such as Derek Bailey and Keith Rowe. Through his work, Parker continues to expand the boundaries of jazz and improvisation, leaving an enduring legacy in the music industry.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
--------------------------------------------
Evan Parker is widely quoted and remembered for his pioneering contributions to free improvisation, as well as his dedication to pushing the limits of musical expression. His influence can be seen across a range of genres, from experimental rock to avant-garde jazz.
This biography aims to provide an in-depth look at Evan Parker's life, career, and impact on the world of music.
Quotes by Evan Parker
Evan Parker's insights on:
So what starts is ad hoc and you never know where it’s going to lead, so it’s important to keep an open mind about those things.
There’s an institution here called the National Sound Archive, and there’s a character who works there, Paul Wilson. He takes a very special interest in the history of the music and advised Martin Davidson of the existence of these tapes.
So I’m looking to the saxophone as a resource which has its own unique set of possibilities. I’m looking to exploit them and develop them and have the fullest range of possibilities of the saxophone be known.
I’ve been to the studio several times, and it’s not that I’m not happy with what I’ve got, but each time I come away, I feel that I’ve learned something that I want to work on.
There are many of these apparent philosophical paradoxes or contradictions which don’t concern me anymore.
I’ve never been one that thinks that the function of an instrument is to approach the purity of voice or the structure of a beautifully sung line.
We all listened to a lot of recorded music, especially American jazz, modern jazz, and that’s where our studies were and our inspiration came from.
So in the sense that we were all dealing with that freer approach, yes, it was certainly one of the first contacts, perhaps the first contact, when Peter came that summer. So it’s a very pivotal moment that is documented there.