On Saturday night, January 20th, following Umphrey’s McGee‘s second of three 20th Anniversary Run shows at New York’s historic Beacon Theatre, vinyl master Wyllys hit the stage at The Cutting Room for a late-night dance party with help from a band talented lineup of live players, performing as Wyllys and the Will To Live.

The Will To Live featured an all-star cast of local New York players. Guitarist Rob Compa (Dopapod) and Chris Cartelli (Newton Crosby) served as a dual-guitar tag-team, while trumpeter Mike “Maz” Maher (Snarky Puppy) joined saxophonist/percussionist Peter Apfelbaum to hold down the horn section following their sit-in at the Umphrey’s show earlier in the evening. Keyboardist Zac Lasher (U-Melt) rounded out the band on keys. A unique kind of performance, Wyllys controlled the flow of the show. Directing the players when to play, when to build, he served the role of turntable conductor for the electro-soul-funk hybrid band.

Before becoming a DJ, Wyllys cut his chops as a crew member for Umphrey’s McGee, touring with the band for years across the country and overseas. It came as no surprise that he would want to pay his respects to the band that gave him his start in the best way he knows how: a down and dirty, disco-drenched late night party. While Wyllys is known for his exclusively-vinyl DJ sets, his live band shows are a different kind of beast. With the emotional significance of the weekend for everyone in the extended Umphrey’s family, and the strength of all the players in the evening’s band Wyllys And The Will To Live was a loving celebration and a party to remember

Below, you can view a full gallery of photos from Wyllys and the Will To Live’s Umphrey’s late-night courtesy of Capacity Images.

[Cover photo: Capacity Images]