This new quartet recording by saxophone maestro Evan Parker is the first for many years to be released on vinyl. Beautiful gatefold LP ediion, with original artwork by 'Nervous' Stephen Fowler. Parker, one of the great post-Coltrane saxophonists, has played a monthly gig at the London club The Vortex, for a considerable time. Evan called these events his 'jazz' gigs and it seemed that the trio's performance came close to seeing Coltrane or Ayler playing at the 5 Spot or one of the legendary New York venues. When Cadillac asked Evan if he would record an album for the label, it was this aspect of his multifaceted talents they had in mind. The quartet you hear on this album (with Paul Lytton, John Edwards and Alexander Hawkins) came together for a gig at the Vortex in Evan's regular slot on June 20th 2019, and what a fine gig it was! Then the next day they relocated to the beautiful barn-like studio of Rimshot, deep in the Kent countryside to record the album. The location, close to Evan's home, had other resonances, which journalist Chris Searle has described in his sleevenote. The subsequent (and over long) process of mastering and producing the album coincided with the first Covid lockdown and the coincidence of Evan and Mike @ Cadillac both reading Defoe's "Journal of the Plague Year", which provided context and some track titles. This put in mind of Stephen Fowler's brilliant rubber stamp artwork, and he has created a visual representation that expresses many of the themes of the album. Evan Parker: saxophones Alexander Hawkins: piano John Edwards: bass Paul Lytton: drums Press: "This album is a joyous listen, and hearing four such natural improvisers engaging with each other closely yet retaining the individual voice of their own instrument and their characters is a wonderful thing to hear." - ***** The Free Jazz Collective "All Knavery and Collusion" is constantly stimulating, often beautiful. It presents a narrative where form, texture, concepts and emotion are clear but there is no overt storyline, no overt rhythm. There's much drama, much motion and warm sympathetic delivery. I feel energised, refreshed and calm." - **** UK Vibe "There's an undeniable frisson of real-time discovery crackling through the session." - **** Jazzwise "The merits of the music remain uncompromised and every bit as bracing as one would expect from the caliber of the participants." - Dusted Mag "There is no more influential or significant free-improviser originating from the UK jazz scene down the decades than Evan Parker." - Marlbank