Oteil Burbridge and Lamar Williams Jr. Unite for New Album “The Offering”, Debut “The Way We Rise”
Bassist Oteil Burbridge and vocalist Lamar Williams, Jr. have announced a new collaborative album called The Offering, which will be released on May 1st. The eight-song collection was recorded at Floki Studios on Iceland’s northern coast with producer Alan Evans (Soulive).
The duo tapped an all-star lineup to complete the album, including drummer John Morgan Kimock, percussionist Weedie Braimah, organist Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band, pianist and violinist Jason Crosby, guitarists Tom Guarna and Jaden Lehman. Each player’s history overlaps to connect the Allman Brothers Band, Dead & Company, the Jerry Garcia Band, Soulive, and West African perssion. Together, they help shape the music’s wide-ranging textures.
“The Offering centers on melody, groove, and message rather than genre, drawing together Southern soul, gospel harmony, improvisational rock, and African-rooted rhythm carried through Burbridge’s banjo explorations into song-driven ensemble music,” a press release explains.
You can hear the project’s sound in its first single, “The Way We Rise.” Burbridge’s muted yet melodic bass line adds a swing over the drum groove, which taps into the West African sound.
Burbridge also plays the banjo on the song, which is how this album got started. It began a decade ago in writing sessions between Williams and Burbridge as the bassist was teaching himself banjo.
“I didn’t have any kind of aim in mind when we wrote these songs,” Burbridge says. “I was just learning to play the banjo, and those exercises ended up turning into songs. [Williams heard lyrics to them], so we just put two and two together.”
Williams and Burbridge connected in the late 1990s. After the bassist’s stint with Col. Bruce Hampton and Aquarium Rescue Unit, he joined the Allman Brothers Band in 1997. Williams is the son of Allman Brothers bassist Lamar Williams and has forged his own path as a vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader.
The music of The Offering will be played during Burbridge’s upcoming Oteil & Friends tour this summer. See below for the dates.
Oteil & Friends 2026 Tour Dates:
| Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|
| May 1 | The Joy Theater | New Orleans, LA (w/ The Heavyweights) |
| May 9 | The Ardmore Music Hall | Ardmore, PA |
| May 10 | The Ardmore Music Hall | Ardmore, PA |
| May 12 | Nevermore Hall | Baltimore, MD |
| May 13 | Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY |
| May 14 | Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY |
| May 15 | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY |
| May 16 | Sun Patio at Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, CT |
| May 17 | Royale | Boston, MA |
| May 18 | Greenfield Lake Amphitheater | Wilmington, NC (w/ Toy Factory Project) |
| May 19 | Greenfield Lake Amphitheater | Wilmington, NC (w/ Toy Factory Project) |
| May 20 | Music at Maymont | Richmond, VA (w/ Toy Factory Project) |
| May 21 | DelFest | Cumberland, MD (w/ Toy Factory Project) |
| May 28 | Iroquois Amphitheater | Louisville, KY |
| May 29 | Atomic Block Party | St. Louis, MO |
| May 30 | Park West | Chicago, IL |
| May 31 | The Pabst Theater | Milwaukee, WI |
| July 25 | GratefulFest | Garrettsville, OH |
| July 27-31 | Roots Rock Revival | Big Indian, NY (Music Masters Collective Participant) |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
