The New Breed (IA11 Edition) Jeff Parker

• 1 Executive Life 07:39
• 2 Para Ha Tay 00:50
• 3 Here Comes Ezra 03:01
• 4 Visions 04:21
• 5 Jrifted 07:45
• 6 How Fun It Is to Year Whip 04:40
• 7 Get Dressed 03:49
• 8 Cliche 04:09
• 9 Beat Head Start 01:00
• 10 Change 05:38
• Total Runtime 42:52

Info for The New Breed (IA11 Edition)

Jeff Parker’s 2016 album The New Breed was a turning point for both Parker and International Anthem, changing the trajectory of his solo career as well as drawing an abundance of attention to our fresh imprint despite our then very limited catalog. Most importantly though, the album is the first to give voice to Parker’s wholly unique take on sample-based beat construction augmented by improvisation and live instrumentation (performed in this case by the high-level crew of Paul Bryan on bass, Josh Johnson on alto saxophone and keys, Jamire Williams and Jay Bellerose on drums, Parker's daughter Ruby on vocals, and Parker himself on guitar, synths, and other instruments).

What began as Jeff’s interest in understanding his own idea of hip-hop processes (and how they related to his work in jazz) expanded into a blueprint for much of his work since then. (Hear also: The New Breed’s expansive followup Suite For Max Brown, the gentle deconstructionist solo guitar of Forfolks, and the long-form slow bloom improvisation of The Way Out of Easy.)

Jeff Parker, electric guitar, Korg MS20, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, loops and samplers, MIDI and drum programming
Josh Johnson, alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron
Paul Bryan, electric bass guitar
Jamire Williams, drums
Jay Bellerose, drums and percussion (“Visions” only)
Ruby Parker, vocals

Engineered, edited and mixed by Paul Bryan intermittently from February to December, 2015 in Santa Monica CA.
Vocals recorded by John McEntire at SOMA E.M.S., Chicago
Mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters, Los Angeles

Jeff Parker
is recognized as one of contemporary music’s most versatile and innovative electric guitarists and composers. With a prolific output characterized by musical ideas of angularity and logic, he works in a wide variety of mediums - from pop, rock and jazz to new music - using ideas informed by innovations and trends in both popular and experimental forms. He creates works that explore and exploit the contrary relationships between tradition and technology, improvisation and composition, and the familiar and the abstract.

His sonic palette may employ techniques from sample-based technologies, analog and digital synthesis, and conventional and extended techniques from over 40 years of playing the guitar.

An integral part of what has become known as “The Modern Chicago Sound”, he is a longtime member of the influential indie band Tortoise, and is also a founding member of Isotope 217˚ and Chicago Underground. A look at his extensive work as a collaborator and session musician offers a glimpse into Mr. Parker’s diversity. This list includes: Andrew Bird, Meshell Ndegeocello, Joshua Redman, Toumani Diabate, George Lewis, Bennie Maupin, Nicole Mitchell, Peter Erskine, Carmen Lundy, Makaya McCraven, Vijay Iyer, Yo La Tengo, Daniel Lanois, Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band, Jason Moran, Joey DeFrancesco, Nels Cline, Charles Earland, Ken Vandermark, Dave Douglas, Fred Anderson, Tom Zé, Clipping, and hundreds more.

Parker has released several albums as a leader, all to critical acclaim, including: Like-Coping (2003), The Relatives (2005) Bright Light In Winter (2012), The New Breed (2016), Slight Freedom (2016), Suite For Max Brown (2020), Forfolks (2021) and Mondays At The Enfield Tennis Academy (2022). The New Breed and Slight Freedom were named two of the Top 10 Jazz releases of 2016 by The New York Times, and The New Breed was named the Top Jazz Album of 2016 in The London Observer. Suite For Max Brown (2020), debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart, and was included on numerous year-end Best Of lists, including WIRE Magazine, MAGNET Magazine, and The Guardian. Renowned contemporary music ensemble Dal Niente premiered Parker’s composition “Water On Glass” at 2017’s Ear Taxi Festival.

Branching out into the role of record producer, he has worked with Jeremy Cunningham on The Weather Up There, Paul Bryan on Cri$el Gems, and Anteloper on Pink Dolphins.

As a film composer, Parker has scored several documentaries and contributed music to feature films and games.

An associate member of Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) since 1995, Parker was awarded the United States Artist’s Fellowship in 2022.

This album contains no booklet.