Unlike most drummers, William Hooker uses every square inch of his drum kit. Not content to mark time or archly punctuate the proceedings with a tasty lick, Hooker is one of the few out-jazz drummers who fuses the ferocious energy of rock (remember Led Zeppelin's pummeler-in-chief John Bonham?) with the deft melodic pulsation of master jazz drummers such as Elvin Jones and Tony Williams. Active in adventurous music since the early 1970s, William Hooker remains idealistic. "I'm asking for light, love, and power," he says, "to try and stay as fast and as quick [as possible]--to pick up on the musical language as soon as it's said. To try to be an improviser who's on top of his game."
While some of his out-jazz peers made it to the safe shores of academia, Hooker has remained at the top of his game, and cultivates a vital and exploratory spirit. His collaborations with Sonic Youth strummer Lee Ranaldo and a variety of turntablists--including DJ Spooky, DJ Olive, and Christian Marclay--have attracted audiences normally wary of adventurous improvisation. His latest CD, Black Mask (Knitting Factory), features three great duets, with Andrea Parkins, Jason Hwang, and Roy Nathanson. The disc not only showcases William Hooker's enormous energy, but also exhibits the sensitivity of an alert accompanist and collaborator.
Joining Hooker for this gig is the protean Eyvind Kang, an avant violinist and composer equally at home with making brooding electroacoustic music and dovetailing with the ever-smooth Bill Frisell. Also on the bill is Portland accordionatrix Miss Murgatroid, and Bill Horist, whose marvelous deconstruction of the guitar with various household implements is not to be missed. Late word has it that at midnight, Hooker will also accompany Sea Level Inferno, an abstract film made in collaboration with Matthew Kohn--but go to the gig for the inside scoop.
William Hooker, Eyvind Kang, Miss Murgatroid, and Bill Horist perform Thurs June 20, 9 pm, at I-Spy, 1921 Fourth Ave (alley entrance), 374-9492, $7.
