Matt Parker at National Sawdust

Photo by Mark Shelby

By Zoe Leverant

Tenor and soprano sax whiz Matt Parker celebrates his second album Present Time (out February 12) at this show featuring the pared-down trio that recorded the LP. It’s tempting to describe Parker’s style as noodling — he revels in the same masterful but easygoing playfulness that makes a great guitar solo. But he moves easily between styles, equally comfortable exploring the limits of free jazz or faithfully evoking a New Orleans second line. The pair that backs him up—bassist Alan Hampton and drummer Reggie Quinerly—are well-versed in supporting his genre-hopping style, which makes sense, since the three spent their undergrad together at the New School. Adding a special touch to this performance are Michael Arthur, a Brooklyn artist who draws nightlife, and vocalist Emily Braden.