Chris Laurence (born 6 January 1949) 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 (2007), Kenny Wheeler's The Long Waiting (2012) and Songs for Quintet on ECM Records, and Norma Winstone's Manhattan in the Rain (1998). He has also recorded music for television, film, and albums, most notably Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Ken Loach's Looking for Eric (2009), The Constant Gardener (2005), Howard Shore's score for Hugo (2011), and most recently was featured on the soundtrack of Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner (2014). In 2007, he recorded a CD with his own jazz quartet titled New View, released on the Basho label along with Frank Ricotti (vibes), John Parricelli (guitar), Martin France (drums), and featuring Norma Winstone (vocals).
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 (As leader) New View (Basho) (2007)Double Bassist 2007 -- Volumes 40–43 – Page 67 "New View Chris Laurence (db) Basho Records SRCD 18-2 This aptly named disc revisits tunes by several of the .." Some Gnu Ones, Jazzin Britain (2021)
With David Gilmour On an Island (Columbia) Rattle That Lock (Columbia)
With Barry Guy/The London Jazz Composers' Orchestra Ode (Incus, 1972)
With Michael Nyman The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover (Virgin Venture) The End of the Affair (Sony Classical) Six Celan Songs/The Ballad of Kastriot Rexhepi (MN) Love Counts (MN) À la folie (Virgin Venture) With Emily Rose Laurence
Relativity (2022)
With Alan Skidmore T.C.B. (Philips) El Skid w/ Elton Dean
With John Surman Morning Glory The Brass Project (ECM, 1992) Stranger than Fiction (ECM, 1995) Coruscating (ECM, 1999) The Spaces in Between (ECM, 2006)
With John Taylor Pause, and Think Again (Turtle) Decipher (MPS)
With Kenny Wheeler Kayak (Ah Um, Ah Um ) Dream Sequence (Psi, 1995-2003 ) Songs for Quintet (ECM, 2013 ) Six for Six (Cam Jazz) The Long Waiting With Brian Miller
Whatever Next? (2015)
With John Horler
Not A Cloud In The Sky (2010)
With David Forman
Like A Rainbow (2022)
Fiachra Trench
Essential Classics (1989)
With Gareth Williams
Short Stories (2022)
With Stan Sultzman
On Loan With Gratitude (2023)
With Frank Ricotti Quartet Our Point of View (CBS) Frank Ricotti Stars (Beiderbecke Collection, 1988)
With Gordon Beck Once Is Never Enough (FMR)
With John Williams The Magic Box (Sony Classical)
With Elton Dean They All Be on This Old Road (Ogun) With the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Curlew River Amadeus Messiah, (Live In Dublin) With Tony Coe Nutty on Wilisa Les Sources Bleues Camomil Mainly Mancini With Lena Horne A New Album With Sarah Vaughn The Gold Collection: Sings the Poetry of Pope John Paul II With Harry Beckett Warm Smiles Flare Up With Maurice Andrea/ Michel Legrand Windmills With Geoff Eales Master of the Game Transience With Debbie Wiseman, Locrian Ensemble
Wolf Hall
With Johnnie Mathis In a Sentimental Mood With Norma Winstone Manhattan in the Rain Edge of Time With Mike de Albuquerque We May Be Castle but We All Have Names First Wind With Peter Gabriel Scratch My Back (New Blood Orchestra) New Blood (New Blood Orchestra) Live Blood (New Blood Orchestra) i/o (New Blood Orchestra) o\i (New Blood Orchestra) With Gil Evans Absolute Beginners Having It All Va Va Voom Insignificance With John Warren Travellers Tale With Mike Figgis Leaving Las Vegas With Anja Garbarek Smiling and Waving With Brigitte Baraha Babelfish Chasing Rainbows Once Upon A Tide With Helen Jane Long Intervention With Michel Legrand Radio Days With Robert Farnon Carol Kidd, A Place in My Heart Jose Careres, Love Is (1984) Jane Pickles, Hey There (Vocalion) JJ Johnson, Tangence Joe Williams, Here's To Life Eileen Farrell, Love Is Letting Go With Elton John Madman Across The Water Tumbleweed Connection With Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now Travelogue With Clark Terry Clark After Dark With Guy Barker Holly With Joe Douglas Trio Visage (Spotlight Records, 1979) With Michael Garrick/ Don Weller You've Changed (1978) With The Mike Westbrook Concert Band Metropolis (Citadel 315) With Neil Ardley Symphony of Amarantis With Andy Sheppard Dancing Man & Woman Learning to Wave With Alan Davie Bird Through The Wall With Alison Moyet Voice With Elvis Costello Il Sogno (Ballet) With Mark Hollis Mark Hollis (Polydor) With Zizi Possi Per Amore With Dick Walter Capricorn Rising With the London Trombone Quartet Some of Our Best Friends With Michael Civisca Love is Like a Breeze With Beryl Cook Live From London With Morrissey He Knows I'd Love to See Him (His Master's Voice, 1990) With Gerd Dudek 'Smatter (Psi, 1998 )
Soundtracks Amadeus – Peter Shaffer Mr. Turner – Gary Yershon Leaving Las Vegas – Anthony Marinelli and Mike Figgis Hugo – Howard Shore Looking for Eric – George Fenton The Constant Gardener – Alberto Iglesias and Robert Church Shaun the Sheep Movie – Ilan Eshkeri The Man Who Cried – Kronos Quartet Tim's Vermeer – Conrad Pope The Duke- George Fenton
References