Liam Noble (born 15 November 1968) is a British jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator.

Early life Noble was born in London on 15 November 1968.Chilton, John (ed.) (2004) Who's Who of British Jazz (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury. p. 264. . He studied music at the University of Oxford and the postgraduate level at the Guildhall School of Music.

Later life and career After his studies, Noble played with saxophonist Stan Sulzmann in duo and quartet performances. He then played in several bands, including those led by Harry Beckett, John Stevens and Anita Wardell. In 1997, Noble joined Bobby Wellins' band. In 2002, he received a commission from Birmingham Jazz to write a song cycle.

Noble's 2004 recording Romance Among the Fishes was a quartet album, with Phil Robson (guitar), Drew Gress (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums). Noble and Robson had often played together, but the four had been put together earlier the same year for an appearance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.Fordham, John (14 October 2005) "Liam Noble, Romance Among the Fishes". The Guardian. Noble's 2009 trio album, Brubeck, was described by the dedicatee, Dave Brubeck, as "an inspiration and a challenge for me to carry on in the avenues that you [Noble] have opened".Fordham, John (3 April 2009) "Liam Noble Trio: Brubeck". The Guardian. In 2010, Noble accompanied vocalist Christine Tobin on the album Tapestry Unravelled, a reworking of Carole King's Tapestry from four decades earlier.Hodgkinson, Will (24 June 2010) "Christine Tobin Weaves a New Tapestry". The Guardian. In 2015, Noble will release the solo piano album A Room Somewhere."Liam Noble Solo Album Launch". Vortex. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

Noble teaches at the Royal Academy of Music,"Liam Noble". Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 27 February 2015. Trinity Laban,"Liam Noble". Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. Retrieved 30 July 2015. the Birmingham Conservatoire"Liam Noble". Birmingham City University. Retrieved 27 February 2015. and the University of Kent."Liam Noble". University of Kent. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

Compositions Critic John Fordham, writing in 2005, commented that "Noble likes a mixture of staccato, drily witty themes that suggest a collision of Steve Coleman and Django Bates with Wayne Shorter – and with Canadian piano guru Paul Bley in the quieter episodes".

Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.

As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes1994Close Your EyesFMRSolo piano2001*In the MeantimeBashoQuintet, with Stan Sulzmann (tenor sax, soprano sax, flute), Chris Biscoe (alto sax, soprano sax, alto clarinet), Mick Hutton (bass), Paul Clarvis (drums)2004Romance Among the FishesBashoQuartet, with Phil Robson (guitar), Drew Gress (bass), Tom Rainey (drums)2006*Let's Call This...BabelDuo, with Ingrid Laubrock (sax)2009*BrubeckBashoTrio, with Dave Whitford (bass), Dave Wickins (drums)2010*Tapestry UnravelledTrail BelleDuo, with Christine Tobin (vocals)2015*A Room SomewhereBashoSolo piano2015The Day I Had EverythingEditionAs "Malija"; trio, with Mark Lockheart, Jasper Høiby2017InstinctEditionAs "Malija"; trio, with Mark Lockheart, Jasper Høiby2017Brother FaceOwn release on Bandcamphttps://londonjazznews.com/2017/07/31/interview-liam-noble-brother-face-recording-on-bandcamp-released/With Shabaka Hutchings; in concert2019The Long GameEditionWith Tom Herbert, Seb Rochford2020Climbing in CirclesUbuntuWith Matthew Herd, Will Glaser2023Lucky TeethFMRDuo, with Geoff Simkins2024Disappearing WorldsFMRWith John Edwards, Mark Sanders, Paul Dunmall 2026Distant PlainsCaliban SoundsDuo, with Alcyona Mick (piano)

As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel1994Sax Pax for a SaxAtlantic1998Outside InsideSlam1998–99Personal StandardsHome Made1999The Cats Hide Under the Bed When I Play My Gary Windo RecordsWriggly Pig2000Cold Cherry SoupForged2000The Best Is Yet to ComeJazzizit2004*Savage UtopiaExitstencil Sound2007Too Young to Go SteadyHome Made2007SleepthiefIntakt 2008*Secret Life of a GirlBabel2009In DeepEdition2010Urban Theme ParkBasho2010The Madness of CrowdsIntakt2011Zurich ConcertIntakt2011*Smiling OrganizmWhirlwind2012*TatterdemalionBabel2013AndromedaWhirlwind2014*TriplicityPavillon2019Days on EarthEdition

Main source:Cook, Richard and Morton, Brian (2008) The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. .

References

External links Noble's blog.