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 New View Some Gnu Ones, Jazzin Britain
With David GilmourOn an Island Rattle That Lock
With Barry Guy/The London Jazz Composers' OrchestraOde
With Michael NymanThe Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover The End of the Affair Six Celan Songs/The Ballad of Kastriot Rexhepi Love Counts À la folie
With Emily Rose LaurenceRelativity
With Alan SkidmoreT.C.B. El Skid w/ Elton Dean
With John SurmanMorning GloryThe Brass Project Stranger than Fiction Coruscating The Spaces in Between
With John TaylorPause, and Think Again Decipher
With Kenny WheelerKayak
With Brian Miller Whatever Next?
With John HorlerNot A Cloud In The Sky
With David FormanLike A Rainbow
Fiachra Trench
  • Essential Classics
With Gareth Williams
With Stan Sultzman
  • On Loan With Gratitude
With Frank Ricotti QuartetOur Point of View Frank Ricotti Stars
With Gordon BeckOnce Is Never Enough
With John WilliamsThe Magic Box
With Elton DeanThey All Be on This Old Road
With the Academy of St. Martin in the FieldsCurlew RiverAmadeusMessiah,
With Tony CoeNutty on WilisaLes Sources Bleues CamomilMainly Mancini
With Lena HorneA New Album
With Sarah VaughnThe Gold Collection: Sings the Poetry of Pope John Paul II
With Harry BeckettWarm SmilesFlare Up
With Maurice Andrea/ Michel LegrandWindmills
With Geoff EalesMaster of the GameTransience
With Debbie Wiseman, Locrian Ensemble
With Johnnie MathisIn a Sentimental Mood
With Norma WinstoneManhattan in the RainEdge of Time
With Mike de AlbuquerqueWe May Be Castle but We All Have NamesFirst Wind
With Peter GabrielScratch My Back New Blood
With Gil EvansAbsolute BeginnersHaving It AllVa Va VoomInsignificance
With John WarrenTravellers Tale
With Mike FiggisLeaving Las Vegas
With Anja GarbarekSmiling and Waving
With Brigitte BarahaBabelfishChasing RainbowsOnce Upon A Tide
With Helen Jane LongIntervention
With Michel LegrandRadio Days
With Robert FarnonCarol Kidd, A Place in My HeartJose Careres, Love Is Jane Pickles, Hey There JJ Johnson, Tangence
With Elton JohnMadman Across The WaterTumbleweed Connection
With Joni MitchellBoth Sides NowTravelogue
With Clark TerryClark After Dark
With Guy BarkerHolly
With Joe Douglas TrioVisage
With Michael Garrick/ Don WellerYou've Changed
With The Mike Westbrook Concert BandMetropolis
With Neil ArdleySymphony of Amarantis
With Andy SheppardDancing Man & WomanLearning to Wave
With Alan DavieBird Through The Wall
With Alison MoyetVoice
With Elvis CostelloIl Sogno
With Mark Hollis Mark Hollis
With Zizi PossiPer Amore
With Dick WalterCapricorn Rising
With the London Trombone QuartetSome of Our Best Friends
With Michael CiviscaLove is Like a Breeze
With Beryl CookLive From London
With MorrisseyHe Knows I'd Love to See Him
With Gerd Dudek'Smatter''

Soundtracks

Amadeus – Peter ShafferMr. Turner – Gary YershonLeaving Las Vegas – Anthony Marinelli and Mike FiggisHugo – Howard ShoreLooking for Eric – George FentonThe Constant Gardener – Alberto Iglesias and Robert ChurchShaun the Sheep Movie – Ilan EshkeriThe Man Who Cried – Kronos QuartetTim's Vermeer – Conrad Pope
  • ''The Duke- George Fenton''