Chris Laurence


Chris Laurence is an English musician. Born in London, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and primarily works with jazz and classical music. In the classical world he was principal double bass with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields orchestra until 1995, playing on many of their recordings ranging from the film Amadeus to Benjamin Britten's Curlew River. He has recorded with many jazz artists, including trombonist J. J. Johnson, Tony Coe, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Clark Terry, Johnny Mathis, and Lena Horne. His most recent recordings include John Surman's The Spaces in Between, Kenny Wheeler's The Long Waiting and Songs for Quintet on ECM Records, and Norma Winstone's Manhattan in the Rain. He has also recorded music for television, film, and albums, most notably Leaving Las Vegas, Ken Loach's Looking for Eric, The Constant Gardener, Howard Shore's score for Hugo, and most recently was featured on the soundtrack of Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner. In 2007, he recorded a CD with his own jazz quartet titled New View, released on the Basho label along with Frank Ricotti, John Parricelli, Martin France, and featuring Norma Winstone. As well as jazz and classical music, Laurence has also featured on albums with many stars including Elton John, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Joni Mitchell, David Gilmour, Michel Legrand, and guitarist John Williams.

Select discography

Chris Laurence Quartet
With David Gilmour
With Barry Guy/The London Jazz Composers' Orchestra
With Michael Nyman
With Alan Skidmore
With John Surman
With John Taylor
With Kenny Wheeler
With Frank Ricotti Quartet
With Gordon Beck
With John Williams
With Elton Dean
With the Academy of St. Martin in the FIelds
With Tony Coe
With Lena Horne
With Sarah Vaughn
With Harry Beckett
  • Warm Smiles
  • Flare Up
With Maurice Andrea/ Michel Legrand
  • Windmills
With Geoff Eales
  • Master of the Game
  • Transience
With Johnnie Mathis/ Duke Ellington
With Norma Winstone
With Mike de Albuquerque
With Peter Gabriel
With Gil Evans
With John Warren
With Mike Figgis
With Anja Garbarek
With Brigitte Baraha
With Helen Jane Long
With Michel Legrand
With Robert Farnon
With Elton John
With Joni Mitchell
With Clark Terry
With Guy Barker
With Joe Douglas Trio
With Michael Garrick/ Don Weller
With The Mike Westbrook Concert Band
With Neil Ardley
With Andy Sheppard
With Alan Davie
With Alison Moyet
With Elvis Costello
With Mark Hollis
With Zizi Possi
With Dick Walter
With the London Trombone Quartet
With Michael Civisca
With Beryl Cook