William Parker and Hamid Drake: Volume 1: Piercing the Veil

Of course, there's much more to Piercing the Veil. This disc distinguishes itself by taking one of the most coherent rhythm sections in the history of improvised music away from the rest of the band. Left to their own devices, these two masters seize the opportunity to expand a shared vision. William Parker's bass playing has always had an intense rhythmic edge, and Hamid Drake's drumming has always vibrated with color. On several tracks, Parker tries his hand at a number of unusual instruments: the balafone, the shakuhachi, and the dumbek—to name three particularly interesting examples. One has the sense from listening to these explorations that this is a tribal ensemble, in the rawest sense. These two players have come together to create sounds, images, and ideas that transcend time and place. Even when they rock 'n' roll.

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