BIG LAZY
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
BIG LAZY brings its trio to Barbès for a late-night instrumental set. Guitarist Stephen Ulrich, drummer Yuval Lion and bassist Andrew Hall make the group’s spare, cinematic music from the meeting points of rock, jazz and the avant-garde. The band calls its sound “noir and twang,” a useful cue for music built from atmosphere, space and sharply drawn instrumental lines.
Rooted in New York’s downtown music scene, BIG LAZY has released seven records and collaborated with Marc Ribot, Steven Bernstein, Mick Rossi and Charlie Giordano. Its debut, Amnesia, was featured in NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Street, and the group’s music has also turned up on radio, film and television. Critics have described the band’s spaghetti-western and noir-soundtrack blend as “Crime Jazz.” Elsewhere, it has been praised as an “elegantly gritty instrumental trio” making “stunningly beautiful music”; Vintage Guitar Magazine heard “Old-school Twang meets gritty Hollywood-soundtrack,” with songs that suggest “their own movie soundtrack.” Robert Christgau called BIG LAZY “The Big Apple Crème de la Crème.”
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.