Lafayette Gilchrist’s music draws on the span of jazz history from stride to free improvisation, along with inspiration from hip-hop, funk, and Washington D.C.’s unique go-go sound. His work thrives on making surprising connections between styles and influences, boldly veering from piledriver funk to piquant stride, vigorous swing to hip-hop swagger, contemplative abstraction to deep-bottom grooves. Gilchrist is the pianist in the Sun Ra Arkestra, has toured extensively with David Murray, and his compositions have graced the soundtracks of David Simon’s acclaimed series The Wire, The Deuce, and Treme.
He leads the genre-defying ensembles New Volcanoes and the Sonic Trip Masters All Stars, and along with bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Eric Kennedy, he’s a member of the adventurous collective trio Inside Out. In 2017, Gilchrist was named a Local Legend by Baltimore Magazine, while Baltimore City Paper named Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanoes “Best Band.” In 2018 he was chosen as a Baker Artist Award winner. Gilchrist has performed with Cassandra Wilson, Macy Gray, Oliver Lake, Andrew Cyrille, Orrin Evans, Paul Dunmall, Hamid Drake, William Parker, and many more. Gilchrist’s recent albums – 2019’s Dark Matter, 2020’s Now and 2023’s Undaunted – landed on numerous critics best of the year lists at National Public Radio, Paste Magazine, All About Jazz, and many more. “Gilchrist’s keys have completely transported us,” says Josh Myers in DownBeat about Move With Love, Gilchrist’s 2025 album with his New Volcanoes nonet. It’s “...some of the most explosive jazz-funk around, combining hard bop, hip-hop, rock, and go-go into a high-energy swirl that aims to get you up out of your seat and keep you there…. Get up with it, as Miles Davis would say.” – Philip Freeman, Stereogum.
