William Parker Organ Quartet

William Parker Organ Quartet
performing material from  "Uncle Joe's Spirit House"

William Parker: bass, compositions
Darryl Foster: tenor sax
Cooper-Moore: Hammond organ
Chad Taylor: drums
Lee Edwards: dance

A very special soul-jazz organ quartet project that hearkens back to early-mid 60s sessions of similar form; fully revitalized by William Parker's indelible compositions and the generous musical gifts of Darryl Foster on tenor sax, Cooper-Moore on Hammond organ, and for this exclusive An die Musik performance, Chad Taylor on drums. This performance is a straight-up if you can be here, you must be here evening.

Among bassist-composer-bandleader William Parker's many, many thoroughly distinctive and deeply rewarding works, this unique quartet was first formed to make an album, dedicated to his Aunt Carrie Lee & Uncle Joe (pictured on album cover), created in time to celebrate the occasion of their 65th wedding anniversary on August 6, 2010. Parker wrote the songs in December 2009 toward the January 2010 recording session. It was officially released as "Uncle Joe's Spirit House" on CD in 2010.

While Parker has brought this band to the stage before, notably their off-the-hook live debut at Bohemian Caverns in DC shortly after the album's release, and later at the Banlieues Bleues festival in Paris in 2017, each of those performances featured all-new material (he is a profoundly prolific composer). This performance at An die Musik will be the very first time that the material from the "Uncle Joe's Spirit House" album will be performed live. To mark this occasion, a strictly limited first-time-on-vinyl LP edition of the album is being made; it will be made available for the first time this evening.

William chose to stage this concert at An die Musik for a number of reasons. He has had very fine experiences performing in this space and has felt the positive energy radiating from within. He is inviting members of his extended family to partake of this celebration of Uncle Joe; the proximity makes it easier for many of them to attend. And, Baltimore! We're looking forward to seeing you and sharing with you.

Showtime: 5 pm Eastern/4 pm Central/3 pm Mountain/2 pm Pacific/9 pm GMT

In-person seats: $30 / $10 full-time students with ID
Attendees receive a link to the recording to view for one week.
Advance sales end one hour prior to showtime; remaining tickets may be purchased at door.
 
Streaming Cost is $15
Link will be revealed to live stream participants 15 minutes before show
and will remain active thru May 26

Donations Welcome

Reviews of "Uncle Joe's Spirit House" on its initial release:

"A family thing. And a lot more than that: one of the great bassist’s most joyful, sunshine-filled records. An album of very accessible creative jazz with irresistible grooves. A federating record. A gem." –Monsieur Délire blog, François Couture

"Though mysticism and spirituality play a hand in his expansive aesthetic, so do earthly concerns like social justice and family. Uncle Joe's Spirit House is a deeply personal offering from a musician whose role as a scene leader and social activist is as significant as his instrumental prowess." –All About Jazz, Troy Collins

"The music flows like a deep and powerful river." –Music and More, Tim Niland

"For a guy who’s rightly regarded as a load-bearing column holding up much of the New York avant-jazz scene, bassist William Parker records some remarkably mainstream-friendly albums. Don’t let this disc pass you by. It’s emotional, hard-grooving, occasionally abstract but often raw and bluesy music that shakes hands with the past before striding confidently into the future." –Burning Ambulance, Phil Freeman