Search - Lafayette Gilchrist :: Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist

Meet the Future of Jazz

Clinton P. Clough | Baltimore | 03/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A few years ago I wandered into The Ottobar in Baltimore at about 10 O'Clock on a Tuesday night, where, For a number of weeks, every Tuesday, Lafayette Gilchrist and New Volcanos had been laying down a new brand of Jazz.



I had not idea what I was in for that night. What I found literally blew my mind. Lafayette was seated at the Piano,wearing what I have come to learn is a trademark hat, playing virtuouso lines of melody up and down the scale, conjuring up images of Monk and Ellington. The drummer was pounding out a strong modern beat, no brushes here! This was the most muscular drummiong I had ever heard in a jazz setting. The bass was thumping in lock step with the drummer and out front - four howns. FOUR horns, Sax, Trombone, Trumpet and a Bigger Sax. All this in a local bar with no cover charge - upstairs on a Tuesday night. Unheard of, and these guys were wailing for about 25-30 people in the place. I was seated at the bar next to a man who turned out to be a music professor from Morgan State University and I expressed my surprise and joy and what we were hearing. He just smiled and said "oh yeah, he is somethign special..."



I came back a couple of months later when they played the main stage downstairs and had a CD release party for this CD, The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist, in part, just to make sure I was not dreaming on that random Tuesday night.



No, I was not dreaming, this was the future of Jazz. Steeped in tradition yet powered by the beats of 21st century Baltimore streets.



I am looking forward to his next CD "Three" his first in the trio format. It comes out later this spring (2007) Check this guy ouit, you too will be amazed.



"

Tuff album!

charlie rock | detroit area | 07/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"just heard the first cut 'assume the position', blew me away.

great beat, modern sound while maintaining classic licks.

check it out!"

J'adore Lafayette...

sytaraSTAR | CA | 08/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the opportunity to see Mr Gilchrist perform live when I lived in Philadelphia.



I love his music -- he is an extremely talented musician who makes jazz music lively, fun, and entertaining"