Acclaimed pianist Aaron Parks is back on Blue Note with his latest studio album, “Little Big III.”
Aaron Parks‘ latest release, Little Big III, is the third studio album from his band Little Big, featuring Greg Tuohey on guitar, David Ginyard Jr. on bass, and Jongkuk Kim on drums. The album presents nine tracks that blend concise, accessible compositions with a striking sense of ensemble vibrancy and empathy. There’s a unique energy at play here—both raw and beautiful—that showcases the band’s deep connection. As Parks puts it, Little Big III feels like “the most supple and alive” record they’ve made, and “the most distilled down to the essence.”
Crafting this album was an exercise in relinquishing control for Parks, allowing the band to shape its own sound rather than tightly steering the process. This shift aligns with where Parks is in his life now—embracing acceptance, humility, and levity as crucial guiding forces. He finds that at this stage, taking the music more seriously has come from learning to take himself a little less so.
The album, co-produced with Blue Note President Don Was, underscores Parks’ evolving vision. Compared to the influential Invisible Cinema, the 2008 release that helped define a new kind of atmospheric, genre-defying jazz, Little Big III feels more dynamic and streamlined, capturing the band in a raw, honest moment. The shared writing credits and production approach reflect a bandleader who’s learned to foster inspiration through letting go. “There’s something about this record that feels like it captures the energy of the band in a more raw and honest way,” Parks says—an evolution that is both powerful and refreshingly human.
Label: Blue Note
Tracklist:
- Flyways
- Locked Down
- Heart Stories
- Sports
- Little Beginnings
- The Machine Says No
- Willamina
- Delusions
- Ashé
Buy: Vinyl
