Miles, Keith Jarrett, Sonny Rollins, Warne Marsh, Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz, Mahler, The Beatles, Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Beck, Bird, Monk, Fred Hersch, Dave Douglas, Nick Drake, Bela Bartok, Wayne Shorter, Schubert, Beethoven, Joe Henderson, Radiohead, Chet Baker, Frank Zappa, Don Cherry, Scott Weiland, Brahms, Wayne Shorter, The Velvet Underground, Stevie Wonder, Mark Turner, Coldplay, Pink Floyd, Paul Desmond, Nirvana, Stravinsky, Bill Evans, Ornette Coleman, Kenny Wheeler, Joni Mitchell, Flaming Lips, Fiona Apple, Electric Light Orchestra, Booker Little, Eric Dolphy, Bjork, The Clientele, Bread, Led Zepplin, and alot of other people.
My name is Chris Lawrence. I was born and raised in Muskegon, MI (1983), and grew up in a very musical household. I sang in church choirs and studied piano before the discovery of Miles Davis at the age of 13 (thanks to Muskegon, MI jazz legend Rod Schaub) led me to pursue a life as a musician. From the years of 1999-2001, I performed as a jazz soloist with Michigan’s All State Honors Jazz Ensemble. Also in 2001, I had the great privelage to perform in the National Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble at the 2001 Grammy Awards, Los Angeles, CA.
In the fall of 2001, I attended Western Michigan University to study trumpet with Stephen Jones and Scott Thornburg, and improvisation with Trent Kynaston, Rick Holland, Scott Cowan, and artist in residence Fred Hersch. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music (2005), I performed at major venues throughout Chicago and Detroit. I also spent time performing music all over the world on cruise ships. I decided began studies at Michigan State University in the fall of 2006, pursuing my other passion of teaching elementary music. In December, 2008, I graduated with a Post Bachelor of Arts teaching certificate in Music Education.
Some of the musicians that I have been fortunate enough to perform with are Fred Hersch, Billy Hart, Bob Mintzer, Jim McNeely, Slide Hampton, Randy Brecker, Aaron Neville, and The Cab Calloway Orchestra. I currently make my home in Portland, OR.
Yeah the cig in that pic was real however I was using it as a prop for my Sandra Dee from Grease costume, I never lit it up, by the end of the night it was so soggy, lol!!!!
