Winter Sun Crying
William Parker · 2011
62 min · 15 tracks · jazz
A meditative journey through free jazz, blending improvisation with evocative melodies that reflect the depths of human emotion.
Top tracks — play these first
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Bells Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Winter Sun Crying — This title track encapsulates the album's essence, blending haunting melodies with rich, exploratory improvisation that reflects on loss and hope.
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Revolution — The lengthy composition serves as a powerful commentary on societal change, employing dynamic shifts that mirror the tumultuous nature of revolution itself.
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Tears — This track captures raw emotion through minimalist instrumentation, allowing Parker's expressive bass lines to convey grief and longing without words.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album's seamless flow and rich improvisation create a unique meditative experience in free jazz.
What we noticed
- The album features long, flowing tracks that often extend beyond the typical jazz length, allowing for deep improvisation.
- The instrumentation prominently features bass and percussion, with other instruments weaving in and out to create a layered soundscape.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- meditative sound explorations
- dynamic journey with peaks
- emotional depth in improvisation
- for quiet introspection
- reflective moments of stillness
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- seek standalone catchy tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Explores emotional landscapes in free jazz, appealing to dedicated listeners of Parker.
- Career context
- When William Parker released Winter Sun Crying in 2011, he was already a prominent figure in the avant-garde jazz scene, known for his innovative bass work and prolific collaborations. This album followed his extensive career marked by landmark recordings and performances, showcasing his ability to weave complex narratives through sound while also reflecting on personal and social themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David S. Ware· Matthew Shipp· Sun Ra
Tracklist
- 1 Bells Start here 8:10
- 2 Train 2:59
- 3 Winter Sun Crying 4:24
- 4 Earth 3:11
- 5 Moon 5:04
- 6 Orphans 4:36
- 7 Explosion 2:47
- 8 Tears 3:03
- 9 Hope 2:36
- 10 Sky 3:14
- 11 Grandmother 2:11
- 12 Circle 3:59
- 13 Hello 3:01
- 14 Revolution 6:56
- 15 Let’s Change the World 6:38
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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