Suite for Max Brown

Description

Though he invited in collaborators for this project,Jeff Parkeris very much a solo artist onSuite for Max Brown. He constructs a digital bed of beats and samples; lays down tracks of his own on guitar, keyboards, bass, percussion, and occasionally voice; then invites musician friends to play and improvise over his melodies.

But unlike a traditional jazz session, Parker doesn’t assemble a full band in the studio for a day or two of live takes. His accompanists are often working alone with Parker, reacting to what Parker has provided them, and then Parker uses those individual parts to layer and assemble into his final tracks. The process may be relatively solitary and cerebral, but the results feel like in-the-moment jams warm-hearted, human, alive.Suite for Max Brownbrims with personality, boasting the rhythmic flow of hip hop and the soulful swing of jazz.

Fellow travelers here include pianist-saxophonistJosh Johnson; bassistPaul Bryan, who co-produced and mixed the album with Parker; piccolo trumpet playerRob Mazurek, his frequent duo partner; trumpeterNate Walcott, a veteran of Conor Oberst’s Bright Eyes; drummersJamire Williams,Makaya McCraven, and Parker’s Berklee School of Music classmateJay Bellerose; cellistKatinka Klejin of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and even his seventeen-year-old daughterRuby Parker, a student at the Chicago High School of the Arts, who contributes vocals to opening track, “Build a Nest.”

1. Build a Nest (feat. Ruby Parker)
2. C’mon Now
3. Fusion Swirl
4. After the Rain
5. Metamorphoses
6. Gnarciss
7. Lydian, Etc.
8. Del Rio
9. 3 for L
10. Go Away
11. Max Brown