LAWRENCE JONES
BIO
Easily one of the best jazz groups in Brighton and beyond. “Brighton Source”
His personal approach to jazz puts the listener right up there on the stage with the band Jones’ vocals, sax and flute hypnotise with their delicate airs; it’s magic. Cadence Jazz Review. N.Y
Bringing his style from Philadelphia, USA and merging it with his soulful roots, Lawrence now lives in the U.K., where he leads his own band. He is the founder of the Brighton Jazz All Stars (BJAS), an arts organisation founded in 2000.
Prior to COVID, Jones played every Sunday at the famous Lion and Lobster venue in Brighton which he hosted for over 20 years.
Recently, he has been featured in the David Murray big band featuring Macy Grey and James Blood Ulmer and toured throughout Europe and America. He has also toured throughout Europe and America with South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim as a member of Ekaya.
Full Profile
“Jazz Flautist” Lawrence Jones has gained international recognition through creating his own unique style as a musician.
The Philadelphian-born musician began playing the flute at the early age of eight but gravitated toward an interest in classical music during his junior and senior high school years. It was at West Philadelphia High that Jones began studying baritone saxophone and an interest in jazz began. While in high school, Jones had the privilege to perform a concert with saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. and from that moment, his ambition to create a voice for flute in the jazz world began.
In 1977, the aspiring musician moved to Boston, where he spent four years as a scholarship student at Berklee College of Music studying flute, sax, clarinet and composition. During these years, he began performing and recording with such well-known artists as Buddy Rich, Phil Wilson, Mariam McPartlard, Branford Marsalis, John Williams and Kevin Eubanks.
In 1981, Jones moved to Los Angeles, where he was active as a freelance musician performing with vocalist Chaka Khan and playing for jingles and several theatre productions.
In 1984, Jones moved to New York and immediately became active performing with the likes of trumpeter Johnny Coles, Saxophonist Bootsie Barnes, vocalist Rachelle Farrell and Branford Marsalis. During this time, he formed a very tight and popular jazz quartet, L.J.Q, featuring pianist Sid Simmons, bassist James Hicks Glenn and drummer Webb Thomas.
In 1987, Jones was invited to the Bahamas to initiate a jazz program in the school system. Here, he teamed up with the Bahamian recording artist Jay Mitchell and toured throughout the Bahama Islands.
In 1992, Jones became a member of jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim’s big band “Ekaya”. During this time, he performed in several jazz festivals, including New Orleans, North Sea and Vienne, France.
Currently, Jones is residing in England and leads one of the country’s longest-running Jazz nights at Brighton’s ‘Lion and Lobster’. He has released seven self-produced CDs, including “Destiny” featuring legendary drummer Bobby Durham and his latest CD “The Dancing Man”, showcasing his vocal talent. He was also featured in the award-winning documentary “Compared to What”.
Some of his most recent collaborations have been a European tour with saxophonist David Murray and vocalist Macy Gray, drummer – George Johnson, vocalist – Joe Lee Wilson, Roy Hilton, Bobby Durham and countless others.