Sparks Quartet is an ensemble composed of Eri Yamamoto, Chad Fowler, William Parker, and Steve Hirsh. This group of free jazz improvisers came together in New York in 2021 with a plan to spontaneously compose new folk music, a task made richer by the diverse cultural backgrounds each member brings to the table. Yamamoto originates from Kyoto, Japan; Fowler from Arkansas; Hirsh is a New York native currently living in the Minnesota wilderness; and Parker is a key figure in the New York avant-garde movement.

This concert is the first stop on a national tour that will take the group along the Mississippi River to Iowa and Minnesota.It is a special occasion for the quartet, celebrating the release of their second album, “Live at Vision Festival XXVI,” and launching a national tour. Attendees can look forward to an evening that subtly blends jazz and folk elements with collaborative improvisation and the varied influences each member adds to the quartet’s collective sound.

This performance is made possible with the support of Jazz Road, a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The Musicians

William Parker
William Parker first came to public attention playing with pianist Cecil Taylor. He played with saxophonist David S. Ware from 1989 until his last concert performance in 2011. He’s led the Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra and In Order to Survive and is a member of the Other Dimensions In Music and many of Peter Brötzmann’s groups. He’s closely associated with the Vision Festival.

Eri Yamamoto
Eri Yamamoto has been sharing her uniquely lyrical and evocative music with listeners in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Africa, Jamaica, and Australia. “She has a deft sense of harmony and note selection…her virtuosity never gets in the way of playing it straight from the heart.” -Daniel A. Brown, DownBeat “My hat’s off to her… already she’s found her own voice.” – Herbie Hancock

Chad Fowler
Chad Fowler started his music career in Memphis, Tennessee, playing soul music alongside some of the city’s most revered artists, such as Ann Peebles and the Hi Rhythm section, and then in a number of avant-garde jazz groups. He has played and recorded with Alvin Fielder, William Parker, Brian Blade, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Matthew Shipp, Douglas Ewart, Kidd Jordan, Christopher Parker, and WC Anderson.

Steve Hirsh
Steve Hirsh plays music on the drumset. Like it was a piano. Or a symphony orchestra. His touch can be light as a caress or as intense as a jack hammer. In his hands (and feet), the drum set is a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds and moods. Steve has been fortunate to play with, among others, Eri Yamamoto, William Parker, Joel Futterman, Matthew Shipp, Luke Stewart, Dave Sewelson, Steve Swell, Mara Rosenbloom, Gabby Fluke-Mogul, Sean Conly, Matt Lavelle, Babatunde Lea, George Cartwright, Christopher Parker, Kelley Hurt, Donald Washington, Chad Fowler, Douglas Ewart, and Zoh Amba. Born and raised in New York City, Steve now makes his home in the woods of northern Minnesota.