Laurence Elder

Laurence Elder's fresh, inspired blend of jazz, rock, blues and pop, along with his "triple threat" talents as a singer-songwriter-pianist, set his music apart as a vital new original sound. Already a signed artist on ESC Records in Europe and in Japan on the P-Vine label, Laurence has recorded with Grammy winners Paquito D'Rivera and Peter Erskine, who both appear as guests on his critically acclaimed debut album, ?Surrounded.?

The album has won raves from JAZZIZ Magazine, Modern Drummer Magazine, The Miami Herald, Randy Brecker, Al Dimeola, and Kenny Werner, to name a few. Recent and upcoming performances include Washington DC's Blues Alley, the Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club, New York City's legendary Cutting Room, and a concert opening for Al Dimeola, who has Laurence on his short list of favorite musicians.

Laurence's background as a seasoned jazz pianist includes music degrees from the University of Miami and Shenandoah Conservatory, but on ?Surrounded? his evolution as a singer-songwriter is more than apparent as he blurs the lines between genres. ?Like Sting, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder, Laurence has the ability to go beyond jazz's traditional boundaries,? says JAZZIZ Magazine owner and chief editor Michael Fagien, a big fan of the album.

While working on a second album, Laurence continues to share his music with the world. When not on tour, he divides his time between New York City and Charlottesville, Virginia, where NBC recently featured him as "Charlottesville's Piano Man." His band consists of some of the industry's most sought after musicians, whose collective touring and recording credits include Arturo Sandoval, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Tito Puente, and Ruben Blades, among many others.