William Parker Trio - ... and William Danced

François Couture, All Music Guide

William Parker and Hamid Drake have a lot of stamina and record producers are diligent in making sure they get occasions to spend their energies. On a trip to Stockholm (Sweden), the pair recorded ...and William Danced with local saxophonist Anders Gahnold during a daytime studio session.

That evening they performed with Jemeel Moondoc, a concert simultaneously released by Ayler Records as Live at Glenn Miller Café, Vol. 1.
Both discs feature stellar playing and this reviewer would not want to have to choose between the two.

...and William Danced sees Parker and Drake in a very jazzy mood. A few minutes in First Dance, the bassist locks into a Jimmy Garrison-type line and things start to softly bop. No matter what Gahnold tries to do, the attention of the listener is drawn back to the riff and the way Drake accompanies it, sticks gracefully bouncing all over the drum set.
Gahnold seems reluctant to "fall for it", trying to blow in different tonalities. He only manages to sound unfocused, but the piece is recuperable.

The Undertaker's Dance starts abruptly (obvious editing), proposing a much faster pace. After a free-form section, the same phenomenon occurs: Parker builds an instant composition, locking the trio into groove and tonality.

The 30-minute title track reiterates the formula, rising the ante with a beautiful bass solo, jazzy, tonal, delectable. At times, Gahnold feels limited on the alto sax, but here his short melodic lines obviously entertain the rhythm section.
...and William Danced doesn't have the warmth of Parker¹s recent group albums O'Neal's Porch, for example), but it sure satisfies the fan, although some may perceive it as too light.