Evan Parker

Innovation in Sound

Innovation isn't limited to engineering, social change, or technology - it extends to how an instrument is played. The Fourth Portal was proud to welcome another British music legend, saxophonist Evan Parker, whose challenging free-form jazz continues to push the boundaries of improvisation.

A Rare Experience for Gravesend

Gravesend audiences have few chances to witness live jazz, let alone jazz improvisation. The reaction to Parker’s performance was remarkable, with a post-gig buzz filling St. Andrew’s, the former seafarers' church that now houses the Fourth Portal Lab.

Audience Reviews

"Thoroughly enjoyed it." — Wesley & Ester

"Someone who knows little about music, it was really interesting." — Eva

"Really clever." — Steve

"We absolutely loved it – hypnotic." — Lincolnshire Family

"It was amazing." — Christine & Gemma

"Mind-blowing." — Liz

Audience reviews

More on Evan Parker

British tenor and soprano saxophonist Evan Parker has been a pioneering force in free music since the 1960s. While his work spans small and large ensembles, he is best known for his solo soprano saxophone explorations, where he employs techniques such as circular breathing, double-tonguing, multiphonics, and cross-fingering.

Parker describes his solo performances as entering a trance state, creating a hypnotic illusion of polyphony—a seamless, intricate flow of sound that seems impossible for a single musician to produce in real time. Many listeners find it hard to believe that one person can generate such complex and textured music live (Cafe OTO).

Over his extensive career, Parker has recorded numerous solo and group albums and collaborated with Peter Brötzmann, Michael Nyman, John Stevens, Derek Bailey, Cecil Taylor, John Zorn, Thurston Moore, and many others.

📖 Full Bio: Evan Parker – Wikipedia

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