Having establishing himself as an expressive composer and proficient bandleader with his 2014 album Flint, Bill Laurance: a London-based pianist and founding member of the three times GRAMMY award-winning fusion powerhouse Snarky Puppy, continues to explore an exciting range of sounds and ensemble combinations.
From the technologically-informed solo recordings that comprise his latest LP, Cables (2019,) to last year’s collaboration with the WDR Big Band (live album being released on Jazzline Records Oct 2019), his funky and rhythmic quartet work on Aftersun (2016,) and his utilisation of strings and brass for sophomore album Swift (2015) – there are few creative avenues that the industrious musician is yet to explore....
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Having establishing himself as an expressive composer and proficient bandleader with his 2014 album Flint, Bill Laurance: a London-based pianist and founding member of the three times GRAMMY award-winning fusion powerhouse Snarky Puppy, continues to explore an exciting range of sounds and ensemble combinations.
From the technologically-informed solo recordings that comprise his latest LP, Cables (2019,) to last year’s collaboration with the WDR Big Band (live album being released on Jazzline Records Oct 2019), his funky and rhythmic quartet work on Aftersun (2016,) and his utilisation of strings and brass for sophomore album Swift (2015) – there are few creative avenues that the industrious musician is yet to explore.
The same enthusiasm that made those projects a success has led to the formation of Laurance’s new project, a trio that is both acoustic and electronic, featuring Lithuanian-born drummer Marijus Aleksa (Ashley Henry, Joe Armon-Jones, Marijus Aleksa’s Maps) and bassist Jon Harvey (The Cinematic Orchestra, Giorgio Moroder, Jordan Rakei.) Having played their inaugural show at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club for the 2018 International Piano Trio Festival, the trio have developed a musical kinship, which has seen new ideas and instrumentation added the sonic palette. They may’ve began rooted in the acoustic, piano trio form, but all three member’s interest in synths, electronics and effects processing has brought a contemporary edge to their work.
The project recently recorded their first studio project: a forthcoming EP containing brand new material alongside new interpretations of music from Bill’s fifth solo record, Cables. Excerpts of the sessions were streamed live on Laurance’s new YouTube channel, providing unprecedented access to his workflow and studio setup at Morley College, London. Recordings from the acoustic project’s aforementioned debut performance are slated for release in spring 2020 on Laurance’s own Flint Music label.
Bill Laurance is a champion of cutting-edge keyboard developments, and is endorsed by Moog, Mellotron, Sequential, Korg, Nord, Roli Seaboard, Yamaha, Roland, Arp Odyssey, Keyscape, Sound Brenner, Native Instruments and MXR.
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