Aaron Parks
‘Little Big’
Ropeadope
In the 10 years
since his highly acclaimed debut album, “Invisible Cinema,” pianist Aaron Parks
has recorded a few more CD’s, but he’s spent most of his playing time serving as
a sideman for Kurt Rosenwinkel, Lage Lund, and many others. In these settings,
he has always enhanced the project and has often risen to the level of a second
star. With the major new album “Little Big,” named for a favorite science
fiction novel by John Crowley, Parks is back as a leader. The science fiction
reference is fitting; much of this music is decidedly futuristic.
Playing various
acoustic and electric keyboards, Parks ventures out a long way from tradition.
Along with guitarist Greg Tuohey, a key presence on the album, Parks
masterfully employs textures and tones from jazz, rock and beyond. The tunes
range from the out-in-the-stratosphere tracks “Professor Strangeweather” and
“The Trickster” to down-to-earth songs like “Lilac” and “Doors Open,” which
have melodies catchy enough to rival an Elton John tune. With Parks and Tuohey
constantly soaring, bassist David “DJ” Ginyard and drummer Tommy Crane ably
hold things together.
This article appears in Nov 7-13, 2018.
