There is good reason why jazz fans and critics alike are so excited about Lafayette Gilchrist. The young Baltimore-based pianist hit the scene hard with his debut, The Music According To Lafayette Gilchrist, and went straight to earning raves for his sophomore release, Towards The Shining Path. Emerging from jazz legend David Murray s Black Saint Quartet, a group in which he still plays to this day, Gilchrist has an approach and presence that s drawn comparisons to royalty such as Andrew Hill and Thelonious Monk. With his own band, Gilchrist leads a septet that"s equally inspired by D.C. go-go, old school soul, hard funk and progressive hip-hop. Introduced to Hyena Records by the iconic guitarist Vernon Reid, Gilchrist is back with his fourth album, --Soul Progressin. The pianist has this to say about his latest recording: Soul Progressin is a rediscovery in the sense of what was and is still the most essential part of my offering. Soul Power. Its roots are endless and wondrous. Its future undeniable. So we just want to celebrate about it a bit.