The Statuary Presents: Walter Parks and The Unlawful Assembly

Guitarist, vocalist, and storyteller Walter Parks is truly one of a kind. His Unlawful Assembly, co-led by drummer Steven Williams, performs a unique mix of spirituals and hymns with some mighty gritty guitar work. This is a rare appearance to hear of this great group in Jersey City.

The Statuary is thrilled to welcome back the originating artist and visionary behind The Statuary, Walter Parks, as he takes you through the world of Americana music and beyond. Walter was a fixture of the Jersey City Heights community and Jersey City music scene for decades. This will be an incredible opportunity to hear this special musician bring his music home to the Heights in the new iteration of the artist’s live, work, a present space he and his wife Margo established many years ago.

In August 2020, writer, guitarist, and vocalist Walter Parks, was invited by The Library of Congress to archive his research and perform his arrangements of music made by southeast Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp homesteaders — hollers, hymns, and reels. For 10 years Parks, a Florida native, served as the sideman guitarist to Woodstock Festival legend Richie Havens. Now based out of St. Louis, Walter has recently co-written with Stan Lynch, former Tom Petty drummer, and has performed at various venues with R&B drum legend Bernard Purdie and at Lincoln Center with Judy Collins. Walter tours with his own trio Swamp Cabbage, with his solo show Swamp by Chandelier, and with an Americana spirituals project called The Unlawful Assembly co-founded by drummer Steven Williams. Walter was a member of The Nudes, a popular folk duo, with cellist Stephanie Winters.

This event is in conjunction with Jersey City Jazz Festival’s Jazz Nights being featured the week leading up to the Jersey City Jazz Festival, June 3-4!

Guest Info — A suggested music donation of $25 is appreciated. All music donations go toward artist fees for this and future events. As the great singer Abbey Lincoln said “You gotta pay the band!”

RSVP: Please let us know if you will or will not be attending by May 31st. Walk-ins are welcome, however, audience members who have responded with an RSVP will be prioritized as we reach capacity. If you are already on our mailing list; please reply via the invite. Please note we are expecting this to be a standing-room event.

About "The Statuary’’ - “Where the line between the band and the audience ceases to exist. Jersey City’s intimate home for jazz, art, and culture.” The Statuary originated in 1907 as the Jersey Statuary Company of Jersey City where the two-story house was Gino DeSantis, sculptor, and painter, workshop. In 2007, the building was converted into an active artist live/work/present space that has since been a home for community members to celebrate artistic expression, diversity, inclusion, and love through music. The Statuary echoes the mood of the 1970s Jazz Loft scene and provides a platform for innovative and culturally significant local, regional, and national musical talent in combination with visual art and multimedia presentations to create an ethereal atmosphere akin to the history that has shaped this one-of-a-kind space.

This event is in partnership with RiverviewJazz.Org and supported by public funds from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund.

Time: 7:00-10:00 pm EDT

Free!

Registration