# JT Track Premiere: Inspired reinvention of “Conference of the Birds” cut also features Evan Parker, Craig Taborn and Ches Smith: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/04/14/jt-track-premiere-inspired-reinvention-of-conference-of-the-birds-cut-also-features-evan-parker-craig-taborn-and-ches-smith-video-sound/
- Published: 2018-04-14T14:02:19+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**On May 11, bassist and composer Dave Holland will release _Uncharted Territories_,
a new album featuring his longtime friend and collaborator Evan Parker on saxophone,
along with pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Ches Smith. **

The group is featured in varied combinations of duos and trios, in addition to the
quartet tracks, and the project is being released in two-CD/three-LP formats through
Holland’s Dare2 imprint. Contacted via e-mail while on tour, Holland reflected on
his enduring relationship with Parker: “I’ve known Evan and played with him over
the last 50 years, and we were both involved in the [Spontaneous Music Ensemble’s]
1968 recording _Karyōbin_. Throughout the years he’s crafted a very personal musical
language and has a history of working with a diverse range of musicians in many 
different formats. He has tremendous focus when he plays.”

Here we offer _JazzTimes_ readers a preview of _Uncharted _with the Holland composition“
Q&A,” a quartet track on which Smith plays vibraphone instead of drums. Says Holland:“‘
Q&A’ was written in 1971 and first performed by the group Circle with Anthony Braxton,
Barry Altschul and Chick Corea. This was a very important project for me that explored
many different approaches to open-form (free) improvisation, and the piece was recorded
for my first [album] as a leader, [1973’s] _Conference of the Birds_. I wanted to
create a creative link between the way we approached interpreting the composition
then and how this new ensemble would play it.”

“I enjoy playing in many improvisational settings and looking at the music from 
different perspectives,” Holland replied when asked about the artistic rewards of
free improvisation. “Open-form improvisation relies on a very intense and focused
communication between the musicians to create cohesive structures spontaneously.
The musicians I invited to take part in this project—Evan, Craig and Ches – are 
masters at doing that.”

![Evan and Dave](https://i0.wp.com/cdn2.jazztimes.com/2018/04/Evan-and-Dave-550x425.
jpg?resize=550%2C425&ssl=1)

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