Evan Parker Quotes

Powerful Evan Parker for Daily Growth

About Evan Parker

Evan Parker (born March 9, 1944) is an influential British free jazz saxophonist, composer, and improviser whose contributions to the genre have shaped its evolution since the late 1960s. Born in London, Parker grew up surrounded by music, with his father being a fan of jazz and classical music. He began playing clarinet at age nine but switched to alto saxophone when he was thirteen. Early influences included Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Albert Ayler. Parker's professional career took off in the mid-1960s, playing with British groups such as the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and the London Jazz Composers Orchestra. However, it was his work with American free jazz pioneer Anthony Braxton during the 1970s that truly solidified Parker's status as a leader in the avant-garde jazz scene. Throughout his career, Parker has been known for his unique approach to improvisation, often using extended techniques such as circular breathing, multiphonics, and quarter tones. His discography includes over 150 albums under his name or as a collaborator with various musicians, including Derek Bailey, Paul Dunmall, and John Zorn. One of Parker's most renowned works is the five-album series "The Ravens" (1978-1983), which showcases his mastery of improvisation across various settings and ensembles. Another notable work is the collaborative album "Joint" with American bassist Joe Fonda, which won a British Jazz Award for Best Instrumental Album in 2004. Today, Evan Parker continues to perform and record music, pushing the boundaries of improvisation and free jazz while influencing generations of musicians worldwide. He is considered one of the most important figures in contemporary jazz, leaving an indelible mark on the genre with his innovative approach and pioneering spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music is a language that doesn't speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it's a sad song and you know what love is, then it makes sense to you."

Evan Parker's quote suggests that music, like human languages, has its own unique way of communicating, but instead of words, it expresses emotions. This means that the universal language of music transcends specific vocabularies and dialects, connecting with listeners on a deeper level based on shared emotional experiences. When we hear a sad song and have experienced love, we can understand and resonate with the song's message.

"I don't believe in improvising for the sake of improvising. I always have a reason why I play something."

This quote emphasizes that improvisation, particularly in music, should not be aimless or arbitrary. For Evan Parker, every note he plays serves a purpose and is deliberate. It underscores the importance of intentionality in creative expression, suggesting that even within the spontaneity of improvisation, there should be a clear reasoning behind each choice made.

"Improvisation is not a means of self-expression, but a means of communication with the audience."

This quote suggests that improvisation in music or any art form isn't merely about expressing one's personal feelings or thoughts, but it serves as a method to interact and connect with the audience. In essence, it implies that improvisation is a tool for creating an experience that resonates with the listeners, fostering shared understanding and emotional connection rather than solely focusing on individual self-expression.

"Every note I play comes from my heart. I don't compose music in my head, it's all instinctual."

Evan Parker's quote suggests that his music is deeply emotional, stemming directly from his personal feelings rather than being premeditated or planned out. He composes intuitively, responding to the moment, allowing for a more genuine and spontaneous expression of himself through his saxophone.

"I want to be able to make music that people can feel emotionally and spiritually, not just hear technically."

This quote by Evan Parker emphasizes his desire to create music that resonates not only on a technical level but also on an emotional and spiritual plane. Instead of focusing solely on the mechanics or complexities of sound production, he aims to stir feelings and deeper connections within listeners through his compositions.

It's not like, I don't know, if Madonna has a new record out, then everybody from Bangkok to Birmingham knows what its called and can buy it the same week. But our stuff is not in that mass market.

- Evan Parker

Week, Everybody, Buy, Bangkok

I think it's a great document of John Stevens' originality. At that time he was already much more fully formed in his conception than I was. I was sort of struggling to keep up, and sometimes it's pretty obvious.

- Evan Parker

Sometimes, I Think, Document, Conception

There are many of these apparent philosophical paradoxes or contradictions which don't concern me anymore.

- Evan Parker

Me, Contradictions, Which, Apparent

The argument we always used to use was that keeping records in the catalog was good for people that were coming new to the music, but I think that was talking over a ten year or fifteen year time span.

- Evan Parker

New, Always, Over, Span

Certain kinds of speed, flow, intensity, density of attacks, density of interaction... Music that concentrates on those qualities is, I think, easier achieved by free improvisation between people sharing a common attitude, a common language.

- Evan Parker

Language, I Think, Kinds, Flow

In a certain sense, aspects of my solo playing were developed in order to test the theory about how long particular elements could be, as parts of so-called free improvisations.

- Evan Parker

Test, Could, Aspects, So-Called

I think the whole question of meaning in music is difficult enough even if you hear me playing live right now in the same room! What I mean and what you take from it may be two quite different things anyway.

- Evan Parker

Two, I Think, Whole, Different Things

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.

- Evan Parker

Dealing, Very, Certainly, Freer

To speak about notation as the only way that you can guarantee structure of course is already very suspect.

- Evan Parker

Very, About, Notation, Suspect

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.

- Evan Parker

Here, Very, Tapes, Wilson

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.

- Evan Parker

Possibilities, Set, Which, Exploit

Improvisation is a compositional method.

- Evan Parker

Method, Improvisation

If I think about the way I was drawn into the music, it was much more by recordings than by live performances.

- Evan Parker

Think, More, I Think, Recordings

I think the solo playing, the decision to start playing solo, came out of having discovered what lay behind the doors that that technique opened for me.

- Evan Parker

Think, Behind, Discovered, Solo

Actually John, Paul Rutherford, and Trevor Watts, and several other rather well known English jazz musicians had got their training by joining the Air Force, which was a pretty standard way for people to get some kind of musical education in those days.

- Evan Parker

Some, Joining, Standard, Paul

You know, the whole philosophy of ad hoc combinations has its strengths and its weaknesses.

- Evan Parker

Strengths, Ad, Combinations, Philosophy

But I think the record will actually come from tapes that are not yet recorded.

- Evan Parker

Think, Actually, Tapes, Recorded

Those early steps are very important in understanding the evolution. But in themselves, maybe now you need the later records to understand the significance of the earlier records!

- Evan Parker

Need, Maybe, Very, Significance

A kind of synthesis, but with some elements that perhaps you wouldn't have expected in advance. I always like that when that happens, when something comes that is more than the sum of the parts.

- Evan Parker

Some, Always, Synthesis, Elements

I think the voice does that perfectly adequately without being imitated by other instruments.

- Evan Parker

Voice, Think, Other, Instruments

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.

- Evan Parker

Away, Been, Studio, Each Time

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