Mike Parker Unified Theory - Embrace The Wild

Mike Parker's Unified Theory
Mike Parker - double bass
Dawid Fortuna - drums
Bartek Prucnal - alto saxophone
Slawek Pezda - tenor saxophone
Cyprian Baszczynski - trumpet

self-release 2014




New York is (supposedly) the jazz capital of the world. Krakow is (allegedly) the jazz capital of Poland. I won't discuss that now, just wanted to establish some connection :)

Mike Parker is a New Yorker who has been living in Krakow city for quite a while now and became a well-known and regular presence on jam sessions and variety of projects happening on the stages of city's few but active jazz clubs. 

"Embrace The Wild" is the second release under "Unified Theory" name, but the first one recorded in Krakow and it finds Mike teaming up with some of the young talents of Krakow/Poland jazz scene, to play a set of compositions that balance diversity of styles with the harmony of beautifully crafted melodic layers. 

Double Bass player usually hides somewhere in the back of the sound mix and stage. It takes discipline to be a bass player and lead the group. Now, this is a bass player's album, and bass stays often in the front, thankfully much in the way of Dave Holland or Charles Mingus, none of the flashy MM or SC stuff (you know who I mean). Mike Parker can keep the time in check with funky riffs and fill the bottom with the big sound or play the most melodic base in the 4 voice harmony, with trumpet and two saxes above. Parker's clearly well skilled on the instrument. But for me this is an album of Mike Parker - the composer.

Concerts Schedule 18.03 - 24.03

Here's a handfull of suggestions for this week evenings.

We begin with something for high quality post-bop fans:

Leszezk Żądło European Ensemble will play two dates, first on 19.03 at Harris Piano Jazz Bar, the second one 24.03 at PIEC'Art

20.03 Possibly the most interesting concert of the week.
Rafal Mazur will guest Marco Eneidi at Literki
The concert is part of the Improwizje series.
I had a very interesting talk with Rafal last weekend and will try to post parts of the conversation soon on the blog.

on 20.03 and 21.03 Kuba Pluzek on piano will entertain audience at PIEC'Art. I've seen him play Stevie Wonder songs, jazz standards, modern jazz as well as completely free jam sessions. He will play with a trio featuring Max Mucha and Dawid Fortuna.

21.03 as well the High Definition quartet will play at Harris Piano Jazz Bar.

I've written about the ensemble led by Piotr Orzechowski on few occasions already so let me just repeat it is a very high quality modern jazz, video below should be a prove enough.

21.03 again, the first day of the spring, Chlopcy Kontra Basia, one of my favourite polish bands will play again in Krakow, this time supporting the concert by indie-pop singer Julia Marcell at Forty Kleparz

facebook event page

22.03 N.S.I. Quartet at PIEC'Art.

The modern jazz quartet is : Bartlomiej Prucnal (saxophones), Cybrian Baszynski (trumpet), Michael Parker (bass) and Dawid Fortuna (drums) swept the Jazz Juniors competition in the december of the 2012.

36 Jazz Juniors - koncert zwycięzców tegorocznej edycji konkursowej - formacji N.S.I. by Jazzariumpl on Mixcloud

23.03 Mike Parker Unified Theory at PIEC'Art.

Mike Parker is a New York born, living in Krakow bass player. His compositions for the Unified Theory band try to bring together such distand genres like avant jazz, rap, hip hop or rock. The group features some of the most prominent young talents of Krakow scene:

S.Pezda-ts, C.Baszyński-tr, M.Gawęda-p, M.Parker-db, P.Dobosz-dr

on 23.03 as well on of the most jazz-rock-latin-indie-cinematic orchestras in the history, the fabulous Mitch & Mitch will entertain you at Dom Kultury Kolejarza