William Parker

Sat., May 3, 7 and 9 p.m., $25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org, arsnovaworkshop.com.

by Shaun Brady

jazz

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Not content to rest on his reputation as the most influential free-jazz bassist of his generation, William Parker has turned his attention to more song-based projects of late, albeit keeping in focus the political bent imprinted on so much of his work. The Inside Songs of Curtis Mayfield has, over years of performance and a live recording last year, fused those interests in novel ways. Taking many of the civil rights-themed songs of the Impressions frontman as a launching point, Parker and poet Amiri Baraka have reconceived them as expansive jazz numbers and penned new pieces inspired by Mayfield's work and message. Baraka will be replaced by Philly spoken-word artist Ursula Rucker for this Philly performance, a plus for performance if not name value given Baraka's tendency in recent years to substitute harangue for verse. The remainder of Parker's stellar octet is familiar with this program and with the composer's work in general: vocalist Leena Conquest, pianist Dave Burrell, percussionist Hamid Drake, trumpeter Lewis Barnes, and saxophonists Sabir Mateen and Daryl Foster.

Sat., May 3, 7 and 9 p.m., $25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org, arsnovaworkshop.com.