EVAN PARKER - Strings With Evan Parker (2001) 3CD SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This project is credited to Evan Parker's name for convenience, but also because he instigated it. In January 1997, the saxophonist invited a couple dozen improvisers to the studio to perform some large-scale pieces (the last track comes from this session). A year later, he reiterated the invitation, but this time only to a handful of string instruments and electronics players. Nine turned up, all from the British free improv scene. Strings With Evan Parker, a three-disc set, contains the whole session. Parker gave very basic instructions and joined in on soprano saxophone only on about one-third of the music performed that day. The set starts with short pieces ("The Sitting on the Roof Series," a warm opener), then moves to middle-length improvs. The 28-minute "Double Headed Serpent" is a dronelike piece on which Parker later overdubbed a solo -- a conclusive experiment. Disc two features mostly subgroup pieces. Each participant was given the chance to choose a number of players to lead a short improvisation. Results vary but are all interesting. Disc three contains another half-hour long improv with Parker performing with the group in real time. "Single Headed Serpent" is the same take as "Doubled Headed Serpent," minus the overdubbed solo. This experiment with a string ensemble is much more conclusive than the one Parker led with the TonArt Ensemble (released as Brot & Honig on True Muze, 2000). The music follows the vein of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble or the London Improvisers Orchestra (for a more contemporaneous reference). But it seems the album would have had more punch if limited to a two-CD set by omitting "Single Headed Serpent" (it feels redundant), "Flying Spark," and the weaker "The Ghost Series." The price tag accompanying this set makes it an item for fans only. François Couture  
Tracklist :
1-1    The Sitting On The Roof Series 1    6:07
1-2    The Sitting On The Roof Series 2    5:54
1-3    The Sitting On The Roof Series 3    3:37
1-4    Laughing In The House    11:35
1-5    Another Fire Dril    16:31
1-6    Double Headed Serpent    28:04
2-1    The Ghost Series 1: (Pizzicato)    5:15
2-2    The Ghost Series 2: (Pizzicato)    4:12
2-3    The Ghost Series 3: (Arco)    6:44
2-4    Sub-Group MM 1    2:52
2-5    Sub-Group MM 2    3:03
2-6    Sub-Group RD    3:47
2-7    Sub-Group MW    5:02
2-8    Sub-Group PC    6:28
2-9    Sub-Group PD    2:50
2-10    Sub-Group HD    2:47
2-11    Sub-Group JR    5:54
2-12    Sub-Group JE    3:05
2-13    Sub-Group KM    3:47
3-1    The Spider's Web    29:51
3-2    Single Headed Serpent    28:04
3-3    Flying Spark 5:38
Violin – Philipp Wachsmann, Susanna Ferrar
Credits :
Bouzouki, Guitar, Electronics – Peter Cusack
Cello – Marcio Mattos, Mark Wastell
Double Bass – John Edwards
Guitar – John Russell
Harp – Rhodri Davies
Soprano Saxophone – Evan Parker (pistas: 1-6, 2-10 to 2-13, 3-1)
Strings, Performer [Springs], Electronics – Hugh Davies
Violin – Phil Durrant
Violin, Electronics – Kaffe Matthews