The journey for Movmnt Band started on the campus of SMU (Southern Methodist University) in 2014. Leslie “Zeke” Ratliff (Keys, MD) and Cornell Lacy (bass) held jam sessions where students and faculty would look on and participate. When the jam sessions turned more into people observing what Cornell and Zeke played, they decided to expand into becoming an original band. As time went on, Paulo Calomeni (guitar) and Tony “Lil Katt” Reed joined the band after hearing some of the material Zeke and Cornell worked on. Deciding to be a fusion band because of their many influences, Movmnt Band began testing their new music in Dallas in 2016. In 2016 and ‘17, Movmnt Band found success in developing a small fan base in the Dallas music community.
Together, they created a Fusion experience that takes influence from Stevie Wonder, J Dilla, Chick Corea, and many more. After receiving requests to release original music, they fine-tuned the songs they performed and recorded as much as they could. Their first self titled album Movmnt Band was released in 2018 and set a precedence of high musical expectation from their fan base. From soaring guitar riffs to complex syncopation, Movmnt Band aimed to expand the listener’s appetite for a higher level of music.
In 2019, Movmnt Band began to create and develop new music as they played more shows in Dallas. They had incredible shows at popular Dallas venues such as Sundown at Grenada, Three Links, and The Meyerson (home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra). They also performed at the Eclectic Fest at The Freeman and LockJohnson’s Playground at Louie Louie’s in Deep Ellum. In 2020, Movmnt Band was scheduled to play the Deep Ellum Arts Festival, but it was rescheduled to a later date. When COVID-19 hit the world, Movmnt Band decided to start recording their 2nd album. After a lot of rehearsal, they decided to expand their sound and include Funk and Space Fusion. On Oct. 17th, they released their first single, “XLR,” on the way to the 2nd album release. Movmnt Band is still putting the album together, but I hope that the release next year will create a new experience for everyone who listens.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely been a journey of ups and downs until now. As an independent band, we’ve had to do most things ourselves to serve our fan base and expand our reach. We’ve had many setbacks as a result, but our belief in the power our music has keeps us moving forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are an original Jazz Fusion band, which sadly is not as common in DFW. We’re known for our HUGE sound that takes ingredients from RnB, Jazz, Trap/Rap, and a lot of other genres. Definitely most proud of our journey until now, and the many people that have been affected by our music.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Well, that’s about it! Other than we had a single that just came out (“XLR”), and we’ll have a new album available next year.
Contact Info:
- Email: Movmntbandcontact@gmail.com
- Website: MovmntBand.com
- Instagram: @Movmnt.band
- Facebook: Facebook.com/MovmntBand
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk8bVrIz0MBKRrICzm-2QIw
