Trio Funk jazz & loop
guitar, bass & prog by Michel Alegre.
Lead vocal; : Loui5

Crossing The Deuce by BIMO feat. Loui5

This Black History Month, we collaborated with Rowhome Productions and Urban Art Gallery for a special celebration of 52nd street's history as a hub for Black-owned businesses in West Philadelphia. "Legacy on 52nd Street" highlights longstanding businesses on the corridor through audio pieces, coupled with an art exhibition at Urban Art Gallery.

Urban Art Gallery

52nd Street

Malcolm X Park

52nd Street Initiative

Hakim's Bookstore

Dynamite Pest Control

Cotton's Place

Brown Sugar

Babe

African Cultural Arts Forum (ACAF)

On today's show, it's the Baltimore-based pianist, composer, and bandleader Lafayette Gilchrist.  Lafayette is an extravagantly-gifted instrumentalist and composer, the type of pianist often described as a “two-handed player” for the strong rhythms of his left hand and his nimble melodicism of his right.  His deep understanding of the music's history find him schooled in piano styles that go back at least a century, as well as having a modern spirit that places him in conversation with the piano's contemporary  improvising explorers. Born in D.C., Lafayette could be seen as an example of great tradition of the area's musical talent, players that had to be versed in the ideas and the styles of the North while containing the soulful feel of Southern sounds.

Since his debut THE ART IS LIFE from 1993, Lafayette has produced over a dozen releases, playing solo, in duos, in trios and with often his septet, The New Volcanoes.  He has also toured and recorded with saxophone legend David Murray and his music is heard in the HBO series', THE WIRE, THE DEUCE and TREME.  His most-recent release UNDAUNTED drew wider attention to Lafayette's talent, and when I met up with him it early August in was just before a sold out show appearing at Chris Jazz Cafe in Philly.

We talk about Lafayette discovery of the piano, finding mentors in area jazz greats Grachan Moncur III and saxophonist Carl Grubbs.  We talk about records that inspired him, his philosophy in leading a band, his musical work with children and even our mutual love of cats.  Lafayette was gracious enough to conclude the interview post-gig, so we'll get a rare pre-and-post gig conversation on this latest episode.

F2K Ep. 54 - Pianist/Composer/Bandleader Lafayette Gilchrist

Featuring interviews with writers, musicians and artists with host (and former FRESH AIR researcher) Dan Buskirk

For more than three decades, The Enterprise Center has promoted racial and economic equity by supporting the growth of diverse small businesses and partnering with West Philadelphia communities on revitalization strategies. As a trusted mediator, we bring together businesses, communities, partners, and resource providers with the shared goal of equal opportunity and prosperity for all.

We invest in people and projects in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to own and build wealth for themselves, their families, and their communities.

As a 501c(3), our mission is to cultivate and invest in minority entrepreneurs to inspire working together for economic growth in communities. We focus our work in the Mid-Atlantic region, with offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

New tracks tagged #TheDeuce