Mariah Parker, Windows Through Time Review

A Journey Across Cultures and Time: Mariah Parker’s Windows Through Time

By Nolan DeBuke

From her early experiences at the piano to her involvement with world-renowned projects like Mickey Hart’s “Planet Drum,” Mariah Parker’s musical odyssey has always been driven by an insatiable curiosity and a love for cultural exchange. In her album, Windows Through Time, Parker presents a program of her experience through a confluence of musical traditions. Parker’s seven original compositions blend Latin jazz with global influences to create a memorable listening experience. This album, her third release as a leader, follows her critically acclaimed Sangria and Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert. With each new project, Parker has documented her exploration of jazz by crafting narratives that challenge genre conventions while giving listeners a relatable musical experience.

Windows Through Time is, at heart, a collaborative project, a musical journey that invites the audience to connect with the diverse talents involved. Parker’s ensembles feature saxophonist Paul McCandless, guitarist Matthew Montfort, bassist Gary Brown, drummer Mark Walker, percussionists Daniel Feldman and Michaelle Goerlitz, and bassist Sascha Jacobsen. The album also includes vocalist Claudia Villela on one selection and special contributions from Kash Killion on bass and Ian Dogole on cymbals and cajon. Their collective performances reflect the melding of traditions that Parker has mastered over the years, creating a bridge between cultures and various styles that the audience can feel a part of.

Our first journey is “The Very Wings,” as Parker’s rhythmic piano figure builds a texture of mystery and intrigue. The melody enters, McCandless’ saxophone blending gracefully with Montfort’s scalloped fretboard guitar. Montfort’s tonal quality of his guitar adds an Indian Classical music flavor to his solo, as he pushes and pulls the strings to express its micro-tonal mysterious possibilities. McCanless’ solo has excellent phrasing and melodic colors through the harmony. The sense of space, exciting intervals in the piano part, and the elegant melody reveal Parker’s excellent control and textured compositional skills. This captivating composition invites the listener to float along with the music, drawing them into Parker’s world of mystery and intrigue.

The title track, “Windows Through Time,” features the clear and angelic wordless vocals of Claudia Villela. Parker’s elegant piano accompaniment doubles the wordless melody. McCandless’ saxophone rises from the vocal and piano texture to take flight in his elegant and expressive solo. Brown’s rich bass anchors the harmony as Walker’s sensitive and rhythmically rich drums propel the straight-eight feel forward. Parker’s solo is just as well constructed as her composition’s theme, building in texture and range. The soli of Villela, McCandless, and Parker is excellently performed and well-written.

Parker’s compositional creativity of mixing contemporary jazz with other traditions continues to shine throughout the album. “Sol de Barcelona” has an outstanding groove that mixes Latin jazz, shades of Afro-Caribbean, and the romantic rhythms and tonalities of Flamenco. The multi-sectional composition has an intriguing balance of written parts, improvisational sections, and segments solely dedicated to the beauty of rhythms with percussionists Feldman and Goerlitz. Parker obviously understands each player’s unique voice within the ensemble and writes music to build on their interactive and collaborative possibilities.

Parker’s compositions act as windows into various cultural and emotional landscapes. “Espíritu Samba” combines the buoyant rhythms of samba with a hip shifting 7/8 meter before settling into a Cuban descarga. Parker’s piano solo, rich with well-voiced chords and melodic flourishes, bridges the gap between Latin jazz and traditional Spanish music. McCandless’ rich-toned soprano saxophone solo underscores the album’s fusion of global sounds. Parker’s use of accents in the written parts builds a naturally unfolding melody with clarity and rhythmic sophistication but always sounds organic.

“Duende” is an outstanding exploration of contemporary jazz and the Spanish Flamenco infused rhythmic designs. Parker’s composition has a catchy melody and harmonic progression. Montfort, Parker, McCandless deliver passionate and expressive solos. The groove created by Killion, Walker and Dogole is magical, allowing the composition and soloist to evoke a contemporary world jazz sound that is truly something special.

Parker shows her ability to paint personal images through her music with the closing track, “Rendezvous.” The mood and atmosphere of the gorgeous musical colors reflect Parker’s connection to her family history, inspired by her discovery of her parents’ wartime correspondence. This emotional ballad builds in energy and complexity, with Parker’s piano offering a heartfelt tribute to the enduring power of love and memory with a stirring mix of contemporary jazz and classical hues in her solo. The piece’s gentle introspection, balanced by its harmonic depth, leaves the listener with a sense of warmth and quiet reflection.

Mariah Parker’s Windows Through Time stands as a testament to her ability to bring together diverse musical traditions into a singular, cohesive vision. Her compositions, rooted in the traditions of Latin jazz yet unafraid to explore new sonic territories, offer listeners a journey that is musically rich and emotionally resonant as each composition and performance is a window into a different musical world.

With Windows Through Time, Parker continues to explore contemporary jazz passionately, using the musical cultures of Brazil, Cuba, India, and Spain. This album is successful in its celebration of cultural fusion through the exploration of the themes that have defined her musical journey. It is a work of art that promises to leave a lasting impression on anyone fortunate enough to experience it.