klaxonman's Full Review: O'Neal's Porch (Aum) by William Parker (Jazz)
Avant-garde bassist William Parker has managed to record an album which appeals to a broad spectrum of listeners while retaining his creativity and forward thinking. “O’Neal’s Porch” blends down-home funk and swing grooves with intricate melodies and free improvisation. The combination proves to be eclectic, with limitless surprises.
Rob Brown on alto saxophone and Lewis Barnes on trumpet compose the horn section of Paker’s group. Brown’s playing exhibits a major influence from many past greats. On the up-tempo tunes his technique is virtuostic, akin to Eric Dolphy. On the ballads he creates a strong melancholy sound, referencing Ornette. Brown also pays homage to Coltrane with a style that is constantly searching and full of emotion. Lewis Barnes is also clearly steeped in a rich tradition of jazz. His pallet clearly demonstrates a life-long adoration of Miles as evidenced by his blistering solos on tracks such as Purple and Sun. On the other hand, if his ballad playing were a pie you can bet it would be [Don] Cherry.
Every song on “O’Neal’s Porch” is a William Parker original. Each held down by a creative and catchy bass line. Drummer Hamid Drake rounds out the rhythm section by providing a deep groove in which Parker sits perfectly. The two swing extremely hard throughout the session while maintaining a strong sense of freedom. However, the liberties taken by Parker and Drake never seem to get in the way of the soloist or each other. The groove provides fertile ground for the imaginations of the horn players.
Somehow, the four distinct artists create a highly cohesive voice. Despite the extraordinary level of individual talent, the output is even greater than the sum of its parts. The reviewer would not be going out on a limb to say this collaboration achieves that of the mid-60s Miles quintet. While stylistically different, the ensemble produces a distinct sound characterized by great depth and originality. The result is a completely unique yet entirely listenable sound that marks new territory in the world of jazz.
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