Rick Lopez The William Parker Sessionography

15 years in the making. Astonishing, profound, worthy of high honors in the field of such research and any all positive adjectives that can be bestowed on such a mighty creation. A labor of both deep love and an exceedingly obsessive nature.

Just having this book in one's hands feels like holding a sacrament.

This is not a discography (although of course a complete WP discography is a part of it); this is a fully annotated (and lavishly illustrated) record of practically every time that William Parker has ever played a gig, with all and every ensemble, as band member or leader, from 1972 clear through to Vision Festival 2014. Did I use the word "astonishing" already?

This is a vast microcosm of one jazz musician that reveals the macrocosm of jazz during the period of time covered -- an extensive history of jazz through the work schedule of one profound jazz musician and his affiliations with elemental participants in the history of that time and this time.

This 8.5"x11" 482-page book, with 370+ illustrations, weighing in at over 3 pounds, was private-press published in an edition of 500 copies.