Next Stage presents double bill featuring Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly and Big Lazy

PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, presents a double bill featuring the reimagined historic spirituals and hymns of Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly, and the "guitar noir/crime jazz" of Big Lazy, on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m.

"Walter's work with Richie Havens has informed a lot of his career, and he has become an educator on the history of blues, roots, and Americana. The pairing with Big Lazy is an evening of music that won't be easily forgotten," said Keith Marks, executive director of Next Stage, in a news release.

The Unlawful Assembly re-imagines and tributes historic spirituals and hymns. Leader-guitarist-singer Walter Parks, longtime sideman to Woodstock legend Richie Havens, is joined by featured artists drummer-producer Steven Williams and Ada Dyer, who toured worldwide with Bruce ⁽¹⁾Springsteen, on vocals.

In one live-concert experience, The Unlawful Assembly "is the soundtrack to American black history - old-school spirituals, gospel, blues, and prison work chants intertwine with swamp hollers, shaped-note hymns and Appalachian reels of white homesteader origin," states their ⁽²⁾website.

Parks's native northeast Florida swampy feel borrows from southern rock, jazz, early 1970s soul, and a few gospel interpretations that "rest joyfully upon a foundation of modern electronic loops."

New York City's instrumental trio Big Lazy has performed for over 20 years, creating film music and playing events at venues ranging from the Whitney Museum of American Art to the ⁽³⁾Opéra de Lyon. Band members on their ⁽⁴⁾website say they deliver "cinematic music and legendary live performances."

Band leader Stephen Ulrich plays electric guitar, Andrew Hall is on acoustic bass, and Yuval Lion, on drums. The band's current line-up also features arranger, composer, and keyboardist Marlysse Simmons, of the bands Bio Ritmo and Miramar.

Ulrich released his first solo album, Music from This American Life, on Barbès Records earlier this year. The album is a collection of 10 pieces Ulrich was commissioned to write for Ira Glass's iconic public radio program of the same name. "At once shadowy and optimistic, Ulrich's music weaves a melodic and textural foundation through many TAL episodes."

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for access to the live stream. Advance tickets are available at nextstagearts.org. Next Stage will provide a beer, wine, and cocktail cash bar. For more information, call 802-387-0102.

This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.