feature photo: Sam Lee
A long-time guitar giant from Chicago’s creative music scene has been stepping out from the sideman shadows in recent years and he’s getting ready to make his own waves again.
Happy Today will be the third long player from Mr. Parker’s band, ETA IVtet, and International Anthem along with Nonesuch Records are going to put it out on May 15, 2026. Backed by Anna Butterss (bass), Jay Bellerose (drums) and Josh Johnson (saxophone), ETA IVtet generated a lot of acclaim for 2024’s The Way out of Easy and this band surely seems like it found its stride.
Parker’s never been flashy about his technique — though he’s not lacking of it — but somehow knows how to articulate his lines perfectly and can fit into any musical setting no matter how abstruse, unpredictable or knotted it might be, whether it’s the Chicago Underground, Fred Anderson, Tortoise or his own ensembles. These superpowers also serve him well when he’s playing the miminalist side of jazz, as with this advance single from Happy Today, “Like Swimwear (part one)” (video above).
The song begins with an uncomplicated repeating figure from Parker, resonating with his hallmark flat, unadorned and exposed tone that puts nothing between him and the listener. Over time, the focal point shifts from Parker to Johnson but Butterss’ bass figure burrows into the groove with the notes played and not played. Bellerose gradually turns up the temperature to a nice, medium heat and Parker returns to leave some tasteful jazz licks.
“Like Swimwear (part one)” continues with the subtly building layering/unfolding that marked the brilliance of the last release. That’s a nice harbinger for what’s to come when the full Happy Today album is revealed.
Pre-order/order Happy Today from Bandcamp.
- Jeff Parker ETA IVtet – “Like Swimwear (part one)” from ‘Happy Today’ (2026): Something Else sneak peek - April 1, 2026
- Harriet Tubman + Georgia Anne Muldrow ‘Electrical Field of Love’ (2026) - March 26, 2026
- Caroline Davis – ‘Fallows’ (2026) - March 24, 2026
