Eddie Parker: ‘Airborn’

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Eddie Parker takes us ‘Airborn’ with his new album, featuring Rob Luft (guitar), Dave Manington (bass) and Jay Davis (drums).

My first experience of Parker’s music was as part of Loose Tubes back in the 1980s and Airborn has much of the musical freedom of that much larger ensemble. He’s a phenomenal flute player but on this new album, he brings along his composition, piano and keyboard skills.

The brief Prelude leads us into the title track, where Luft’s melodious guitar morphs into keyboards. The Parker/Luft pairing works beautifully and they allow us each other space to develop and share improvisational ideas.

Then we are suddenly given a 28 second Interlude - Sextet of flute and keyboards to take us into Airborn 2, which allows Parker’s flute to soar, and thence to Airborn 3 and Interlude - Quartet. Once we reach Rock Latin, we hear Luft’s guitar in concert with keyboards and the bass/drums combo creating an insatiable groove.

The beautiful Interlude - Duo takes that magical flute and guitar pairing as they fly briefly together. 

Parker’s piano introduces the sublime To Plant A Tree. He has said: “In this often threatening, unpleasant and uncertain world, planting a tree is a most hopeful thing to do. A tree is an act of faith, a time machine; a tree seeds other trees.”

We’re back into Loose Tubes rhythmic complexity territory with Wonky Clockwork, into the darkness of Cortège and a spirited Davis/Manington introduction to Airborn 5. Then we have Parker’s piano alone on another brief sample with Interlude - Solo.

Oke Quixote ends Airborn and again that juxtaposition of Parker and Luft soars above the incessant drive of Manington and Davis. I missed the album release show in London and I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open for another chance to catch this music live.

Eddie Parker’s ‘Airborn’ is available on Pig Records from 18 September