Lawrence Jones Quartet at World Heartbeat

A London audience had the rare chance to hear Brighton-based jazz star Lawrence Jones showcase his much-appreciated talents. And what a memorable performance it was, as the triple-threat artist (flute, alto saxophone and vocals) took patrons through a gratifying selection of tunes over two 45-minute sets.

Playing in the intimate setting of the recently built World Heart Beat venue in Nine Elms, Lawrence began his set playing flute and singing Donny Hathaway’s Tryin’ Times.

It was a fitting piece in light of the socio-political turmoil and strife unfolding presently in several parts of the world. Lawrence’s bluesy interpretation did justice to a song made popular by Roberta Flack in the early 1970s during the civil rights and Vietnam War era in the United States.

Special mention should be made of Jones’ accompanists in the musical engine room: pianist Terry Seabrook, bassist Paul Whitten and drummer Joe Edwards, providing sterling support.

Lawrence’s vocal influences also reveal an admiration for Abbey Lincoln, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Eddie Jefferson. His renditions of Throw it Away and Theme for the Eulipions were well received. Bennie’s from Heaven (the now classic humorous spoof on the jazz standard Pennies from Heaven made famous by Jefferson) went down a storm with everyone in the house laughing uproariously.

This reviewer’s favourite selection of the evening though, was Grover Washington Jr’s Lullaby for Shana Bly, a pretty jazz waltz with a gorgeous melody (from Washington Jr’s ‘Then and Now’ album of 1988), whose interpretation confirmed Lawrence’s effortless mastery of the flute.

Born in the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Lawrence Jones began playing the flute at the age of eight. It was at West Philadelphia High School that he developed an interest in jazz and got the opportunity to perform with Grover Washington Jr and to be mentored by jazz violin luminary John Blake.

Having bagged a scholarship to Berklee College of Music to study flute, saxophone, clarinet and composition, young Lawrence also took advantage of moments while in Boston to perform and record with a who’s who of jazz legends, including Buddy Rich and Marian McPartland. Further openings came after Berklee, when he moved to Los Angeles and New York, in 1981 and 1984 respectively, to play with several established pop and jazz acts such as Chaka Khan, Sid Simmons and Branford Marsalis. Prior to settling in Brighton in the early 1990s, Jones taught music in the school system of the Bahamas and toured as a member of Abdullah Ibrahim’s (Dollar Brand) Ekaya band. He led the jazz night at Brighton’s Lion and Lobster bar for 20 years and in 2000, founded the the Brighton Jazz All Stars (BJAS).

Kudos to Ossie Huggins and Kathy Kalarus of Music Motivation Management Ltd for making Lawrence’s performance possible.