LAFAYETTE GILCHRIST & NEW VOLCANOES

MOVE WITH LOVE

Morphius Records

Lafayette Gilchrist, keyboards; Carl Filipiak, guitar; Kevin Pinder, drums; Bashi Rose, percussion; Leo Maxey, trumpet; Christian Hizon, trombone; Anthony ‘Blue’ Jenkins, bass guitar; Shaquim Muldrow, tenor saxophone. GUESTS: Ebban Dorsey, alto saxophone; Efraim Dorsey, tenor saxophone.

This Baltimore-based keyboardist and composer, Lafayette Gilchrist is the newest member of the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra.  He brings his “Move With Love” message to the masses with this newly released musical project.

“…The whole world seems to be moving in the opposite direction.  The only way to move towards the future is with humanity, with compassion, with care and with love,” he writes in his press package.

This album was recorded ‘live’ at The Club Car in Baltimore, Maryland.  They open their ‘live’ performance with a tune called “Cut Through the Chase,” a song Gilchrist co-penned with drummer Kevin Pinder.  It is full of energy and exudes an urgency that was inspired by common, everyday people and their daily lives. Christian Bizon takes an extended trombone solo, elaborating on the catchy melody. Carl Filipiak’s electric guitar is king during his solo improvisation. Gilchrist says their music is meant to depict the average person and their everyday work week, blended with their personal lives and challenges.

Gilchrist explained, “…Love is more than a fuzzy feeling.  Love is consistency.  Love is justice. Love is reciprocity.  Love is giving.  There’s a lot in that four-letter word.”

The title tune,“Move With Love” features their wonderful percussionist, Bashi Rose.  It’s another high energy tune that gives Rose a platform to explore his dynamic African inspired rhythms.

This is followed by “Bamboozled” that transforms the energy of the first two tunes to a quieter groove.  This arrangement seems to creep into my listening room on tiger paws.  There is something stealthy about this tune, and ferocious at the same time.  The horns sing one song, while the bass and piano add a descant effect, using a counter-melodic approach. Lafayette Gilchrist takes a piano solo that’s propelled by the blues.

As a longtime collaborator with saxophonist David Murray, including a lengthy tenure in his quartet, Gilchrist brings both vigorous swing and hip-hop swagger to this project.  He integrates funk beats, straight-ahead jazz and disco rhythms into his melodic sensibilities. The resulting compositions are also tinged with New Orleans jazz roots, clearly present in the tune, “Bamboozled.”

Perhaps the closing tune, “Crosspollination Aggregation” sums up the whole premise of this album.  It seems to be a musical blend of cultures, moods, and genres, all stirred together like a delicious stew of people sharing happiness, joy and love.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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