The Snake Decides is an album by British jazz

British jazz

British jazz is a form of music derived from American jazz. It reached Britain through recordings and performers who visited the country while it was a relatively new genre, soon after the end of World War I. Jazz began to be played by British musicians from the 1930s and on a widespread basis in...

 saxophonist Evan Parker

Evan Parker

Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...

. It was released in 1988 on Evan Parker

Evan Parker

Evan Shaw Parker is a British free-improvising saxophone player from the European free jazz scene.Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free jazz and free improvisation, and has pioneered or substantially expanded...

 and Derek Bailey's Incus Records

Incus Records

Incus Records is an artist-owned record label, founded by Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley, Evan Parker and Michael Walters, specialising in the dissemination of free-improvised music. The first release on the label was The Topography of the Lungs, recorded by Bailey, Parker and Han Bennink in 1970...

 label and rereleased on the Psi label in 2003. The album features four saxophone solos, recorded by sound engineer Michael Gerzon. The Penguin Guide to Jazz has awarded the album one of its rare crown accolades, in addition to featuring it as part of its Core Collection.

Track listing

All compositions by Evan Parker

1. "The Snake Decides" - 19:56
2. "Leipzig Folly" - 11:42
3. "Buriden's Ass" - 6:29
4. "Haine's Last Tape" - 6:01