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In a nod to Zepellin and other rock outfits, Baltimore-based pianist Lafayette Gilchrist has titled his third record Three (it is also a trio record, for what it's worth).
Gilchrist has recently been making subtle waves on the DC-Baltimore circuit as an in-demand sideman. He has also been branching out as a result of his growing association with the saxophonist David Murray, the drummer Steve Williams (who spent the 1980s and 1990s in the trio of the late Shirley Horn) and with
On Three, Mr. Gilchrist investigates deep pockets of groove while maintaining rolling tremolos not unlike those of pianists Cecil Taylor. There is a certain restlessness in Mr. Gilchrist's message and while this heightened sense of activity on a piece like "Visitors" keep's your attention, it fails to do anything terribly surprising. Conversely, using a similar formula on "Spheres of Influence" the pianist roils out a densely rhythmic melody.
I have mixed feelings and will revisit this in a month. Comments are welcome.
1 comment:
For me, the problem comes from the drums and bass: they're way too flat and unchanging to really react and stoke what Gilchrist is doing. It's really a shame, as I love his playing: it's both heady and down-home at the same time.
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