Richie Lawrence’s new album, Moving At The Speed of Trees
A reflection of lives lived, traveled, and loved
Out On March 21, 2025
The noted piano player teams up with friends like Rick Shea and Tony Gilkyson to create audio-visual poetry
“…talent like no other on the piano” – Maverick Magazine
Richie’s voice is expressive, with edges and curves that are well-worn with wisdom and hope
Moving at the Speed of Trees, the new album from Richie Lawrence, reflects life experiences that only an elder statesman can portray: a grandfather’s immigration, infidelity, broken dreams, a long life, the unconditional hopes and prayers of parenthood, instrumental poetry, and the wonderful waltz. The 12-song album is filled with some of his favorite players and recorded at Shawn Nourse’s (Dwight Yoakum, I See Hawks In L.A.) studio in Los Angeles, CA, creating a panoramic view of American roots and folk music.
Originally, the album was to be produced with Richie’s songwriting partner, Paul Lacques (I See Hawks In L.A.); however, plans changed when Paul died in January 2024 after a battle with cancer. Richie forged on with the album, and the guest list of players became legendary – members of the seminal roots music band I See Hawks In L.A.- Victoria Jacobs, Paul Marshall, Rob Waller along with former Hawk Nourse on drums, other guests include Simeon Pillich (Ry Cooder, John Hiatt), Tony Gilkyson ( X, Lone Justice), Rick Shea (Dave Alvin), Giorgi Khokhobashvili (Jessica Malone), Dave Zirbel (Phil Lesh, I See Hawks In L.A.) Stefanie Naifeh (The Underthings) and his wife Katie Thomas (The Yolos).
“It was so fun to play live in the studio with these folks, all masters of their craft—inventive, funky, in the pocket, resourceful, funny, good people, all groove. There would be no record without them. I am forever grateful.” – Richie Lawrence
Of the 12 tracks on Moving At The Speed Of Trees, Richie collaborated on several songs with his friends and wife, Katie. He co-wrote two tracks with Paul; “Leaving You” and “The Wonderful Waltz”— Rob Waller on “Oh Me Oh My “and Katie on the song “Isla.” The album’s only cover is a Ray Bonneville (whom he has been playing with since the 70s) one, “Lone Freighter’s Wail” – “lending voice to the listener’s transport of choice, by water or land, lending us a visual of all that is seen and felt along the passage. So happy to have the wonderful Dave Zirbel, on pedal steel, wailing on the recording. “The remaining seven songs are all original compositions by Richie, highlighting his personal musical style and creative vision throughout the album.
These songs cover subjects such as immigration, love and loss, and the impact of the world as we know it. This leads to the song “InFable,” an original word from Richie that became the center of his world during the global pandemic. Richie explains,” Ineffable meaning, without words to describe, and InFable meaning essentially, beyond fucked. As it turns out, it’s in the key of F. So InFable became an angry diatribe spouting off about the collapse of our environment, politics, personal diet, and the internet. With my wife Katie’s insistence, I had to add a last verse of hope to offset the gloom and doom; “Moving at the Speed of Trees” is the last line and became the title of the whole album. The phrase is taken from The Overstory, a novel by Richard Powers.”
The album’s opening song, “On The Boat,” is about Richie’s grandfather’s immigration story on board the Oceanic back in 1903 and how he wanted to write a song about him. “I wanted to write a song which recognizes my grandfather and grandmother while paralleling their journey to that of immigrants throughout history.” The song is very cinematic, with the piano as the lead instrument and Richie’s storytelling vocals. The song “Life Long Lived” is about a friend in Scotland who, at 100, is still vibrant and witty, drinks a pint, and walks along the Scotch pines. The violin and piano dance around Richie and Katie’s voices, creating a whimsical tune. One of Richie and his wife’s favorites is “The Wonderful Waltz.” Written with Paul Lacques during their Rotondi band days, this is an excellent homage to their dear friend.
Richie’s thoughts about the album’s closer, “I Believe In You,” gently remind us how humans need unconditional support: “We all need it, from those we love and from ourselves…that unconditional love and support. Maybe the biggest challenge is to receive it.”
Some personal praise from Riche’s close friend, noted visual artist Jeff Weiss: “’ The Poetry of Lust” is awesome – A Chopin Nocturne that turns into a heavy blues about sex – and ends in some Zappaesque cacophony. – who woulda thunk!”
About Richie Lawrence:
Born in Tulsa, OK, when Eisenhower was president, Richie became best friends with the family’s 1917 Model AI Steinway Grand Piano, which he still plays. He began to dig deep into blues and roots music, self-taught from vinyl, absorbing the styles of Professor Longhair, Otis Spann, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Garth Hudson. In the late 1970s, he traveled to Colorado for college and first met Ray Bonneville. From there, he headed to California in 1980.
In 1983, Richie met guitarist/songwriter Paul Lacques, and the two would work together for the next seven years in that uniquely creative and crazy theatrical Polka extravaganza called Rotondi. For Richie and Paul, the Rotondi exploit garnered a Los Angeles DramaLogue Award for Best Music and thousands of fans nationwide. The band would release four CDs and appear on every major television network of the day: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, HBO, and NPR’s Weekend Edition. Rotondi embarked on three U.S. tours and many festivals that led to meeting, jamming, or hanging with The Neville Brothers, David Lindley, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Doug Sahm, Little Richard, David Byrne, Timothy Leary, Brave Combo and Polka kings Jimmy Sturr and Eddie Blazonczyk. Richie has worked as a session player and band member with various artists over his long career, including Tim Goodman, I See Hawks In L,A., and Ray Bonneville.
In 1994, he moved to Sacramento to marry his wife, fine artist, and singer Katie Thomas, and joined the traditional cowboy folk music experience called Horse Sense with Justin Bishop. The rosters of The USIA and the Western States Arts Federation took him around the world with various groups of the same cloth.
In 2004, he partnered with fellow writer, bedpandolin player Ken Cooper, and bassist Steve O’Neill to create The Loose Acoustic Trio and released four albums. Then, in 2010, Richie launched a solo career with his band, The Yolos, and has released three albums (Melancholy Waltz, Water, Rue Sanxay) leading up to 2025’s Moving At The Speed Of Trees.
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