In a career spanning several decades, Atlanta, Georgia-based composer, bassist and producer Joseph Patrick Moore has performed with the likes of Col. Bruce Hampton & the Fiji Mariners, Stewart Copeland, Earl Klugh, Derek Trucks, Buddy Miles, Gil Scott Heron, Jimmy Herring, John Popper, Mike Gordon and John Fishman, Vassar Clements, and many others. Moore has also created an impressive body of critically-acclaimed solo recordings. To Africa With Love, Moore’s eighth full-length release, blends funk and contemporary jazz with rock and electronica to create a genre-bending musical and spiritual tribute to the Dark Continent.

To Africa With Love contains eleven Moore originals inspired and informed by his interest in African rhythms and cultures, plus two rousing covers, “Fire On the Bayou” (The Meters) and Horace Silver’s instrumental “Senor Blues.”  Moore is credited with recording, editing, mixing and producing the entire album, which was released in May 2010 on his own Blue Canoe label.  Moore was joined on these recording sessions by fellow “Hotlanta” cohorts Brian Carl (guitar), Tyrone Jackson (keyboards), and Wayne Viar (drums/percussion). 

Moore shines on his electric, double, and fretless bass work throughout the new album.
While To Africa With Love is dominated by tastefully-executed bass-driven instrumentals punctuated by swirling keyboards, the blistering opener “Fire On the Bayou” features a funky vocal turn from guest artist Charlie Wood.  In addition, Chinua Hawk sings a lead vocal on “Eyerusalem,” the album’s centerpiece track, and Abbey Bouzefrane contributes vocals to the ambient Moore original, “What Could Have Been.” One of the definitive highlight of the album is the U2-styled title cut which features the acoustic guitar and soulful vocals of Seth Condrey.  Moore describes this track as a “love song to a continent that has experienced so much injustice and tragedy.” 

Joseph Patrick Moore fans will be thrilled to learn that a compelling companion DVD documentary on the making of To Africa With Love is also available on the Blue Canoe label.