4 STARS - Paris-Move

RICHIE LAWRENCE – MOVING AT THE SPEED OF TREES   4 STARS
Big Book Records 

"In addition to his appearance as a Southern plantation foreman from the century before last (threadbare Stetson à la Doug Sahm, hair and goatee à la Wild Bill Hicock), Richie Lawrence boasts the gold-edged curriculum of a Zelig in terms of Americana. Born in Tulsa (Oklahoma) during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower (not far from the native places of JJ Cale and Leon Russell), the young Richie had a rural childhood, illuminated by his encounter with his family's Steinway grand piano, on whose keys he first became familiar with the blues of Otis Spann, the Louisiana R&B of Professor Longhair, the rock n' roll of Jerry Lee Lewis and the rich panel of Garth Hudson within the Band. He migrated to Colorado at the turn of the seventies, to get involved with the local scene (and notably Ray Bonneville, with whom he had the opportunity to open the respective shows of Willie Dixon, John Hammond, Mance Lipscomb and the Ramones – yes), before relocating to L.A. for the following decade. While starting a career as a session man, he continued to make money there by hopping among big names such as Steve Goodman, Bonnie Raitt, Crystal Gayle, America and George Thorogood, before making the decisive meeting with Paul Lacques (future eminent member of I See Hawks In L.A.). As close as thieves, our two lads began by collaborating for seven years in Rotondi (a musical-theatrical revue with a burlesque polka tendency, which released four albums and was featured on numerous national television programs), during which Richie added the accordion to his sound palette. It was then that the ants in his legs (and in his heart too) pushed him to Sacramento (where he married the singer Katie Thomas, with whom he performed from then on in Horse Sense, then the Loose Acoustic Trio), as well as I See Hawks In LA, where he joined his friend Lacques. It wasn't until 2010 (on the eve of his sixtieth birthday) that Richie finally decided to record his first solo album (the instrumental "Melancholy Waltz"), followed two years later by "Water" (with his own band, The Yolos), and finally by "Rue Sanxay" in 2015.


It took a decade for this very busy musician to finally grace us with this fourth opus, which was about to be produced by his faithful colleague Paul Lacques. Alas, the latter having been taken by illness last year, it was Richie and his regular who finally stuck to it, and if these lovebirds co-sign the beautiful “Isla” (where Richie’s accordion and keyboard support Katie’s mischievous tone), seven tracks are by Lawrence alone, while he also wrote one with his late friend Lacques and Robin Ginsburg, and another with Robert Rex Waller Jr (frontman of I See Hawks In LA, reviewed HERE, HERE and HERE, and whose recent solo album was also reviewed HERE). The faithful Ray Bonneville lends his languid “Lone Freighter’s Wail”, while Victoria Jacobs, current drummer of I See Hawks In LA, officiates on two tracks (and vocals on a third). In addition to our little couple (respectively on vocals, as well as on piano and accordion), a dozen musicians contribute to the arrangements of this album which opens with the poignant ballad “On The Boat”, where Richie’s dexterity on the ivories underpins his tone with a precarious but touching accuracy (in the manner of a Ray Davies in a similar exercise). A fan of the late Nicky Hopkins, Lawrence gives this piece (as well as the splendid “The Poetry Of Lust”) a very European preciousness, close to that of the no less regretted Gary Brooker (or the refined Ben Sidran). Drummer Shawn Nourse (Dwight Yoakam, also ex-Hawks In LA) provides most of the drumming with subtlety, while also acting as sound engineer, and Mr and Mrs duet on the nostalgic but blissful “Life Long Lived”, before the country flavor of I See Hawks In LA invites itself for a biographical “Oh Me Oh My” co-written by Robert Rex Waller (with Dave Zirbel’s pedal-steel, and the same Waller on lead vocals). To further confirm this lineage, it is the bassist of this band, Paul Marshall, who intervenes on this track, as well as on the ragtime swing “Big Fun” which follows. Katie interprets the bluegrass walz “Leaving You” (where the mandolin of Rick Shea, collaborator of the great Dave Alvin, shines), before the stride piano in the style of Mose Allison invites itself for an “Infable” with a truly irresistible swing. We then realize how much this devil Lawrence also knows his jazz inside out (while spotting the album's generic title on its coda). The couple sings "The Wonderful Waltz" in unison, before the solo piano instrumental "Emily Dickinson" takes on the trappings of an expressionist film soundtrack, preceding the moving "I Believe in You" where Richie renews his vows to his beloved on the keyboard. A beautiful conclusion to an album full of emotion."

​Patrick Dallongeville    Paris-Move