Erik Lawrence
Music and Links
Erik began with his saxophone at the age of 5 under the instruction of his father, noted jazz saxophonist and educator Arnie Lawrence. By the age of 8 he appeared on his first record, an improvisational excursion entitled "Arnie Lawrence and the Children Of All Ages: Inside An Hourglass", featuring Richard Davis on bass, Dick Hyman on keyboards, Ed Shaugnessey on drums and a 5 year old Richard Davis, Jr. Before he finished high school he had added flute to his passionate studies.
Aside from his father, Erik acknowledges mentors and teachers along the way including saxophonist/vocalist Hildred Humphries, jazz pianist Bill Triglia, jazz drummer Billy Parker. Along the way he played with Big Chief Russell Moore, who played trombone with Louis Armstrong, the great drummer Frankie Dunlop and many others. All of these experiences took place in Nyack, NY and just a few miles to it's south, New York City.
Erik's first major gig was when he joined Chico Hamilton's ensemble at the age of 20. Along the way he's played on dozens of recordings, soundtracks, etc and toured North America, South America, Central America, Europe and Africa.
He has released three CDs as a leader or co-leader:
Merge: Poetry and Music with Cassandra Cleghorn, Allison Miller and Rene Hart
Erik Lawrence and Hipmotism with Steven Bernstein, Allison Miller and Rene Hart
Honey Ear Trio: Steampunk Serenade with Allison Miller and Rene Hart
Erik maintains a private teaching practice, along with clinics, lectures and artist-in-residencies.
Along the way he has toured, played and recorded with countless artists and heroes including:
ROCK, POP and SOUL:
The Band
Little Feat
Levon Helm
Bob Dylan
Aretha Franklin
Neville Family Affair (featuring Aaron Neville and his sons)
Buddy Miles
Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
Rickie Lee Jones
Aretha Franklin
Roger Waters
Joe Walsh
Willie Nelson
Tony Levin (The Levin Brothers)
Robert Plant and Allison Krauss
Little Feat
Jackson Browne
My Morning Jacket
Darlene Love
Joan Osborne
Phil Lesh and Friends
Bruce Hornsby and Jack DeJohnette
Glenn Hansard and Swell Season
David Bromberg
Gov’t Mule
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
The Spin Doctors
John Popper (from Blues Traveler)
Medeski Martin Wood
Bernie Worrell
Glen Hansard
Masters of the Groove: Bernard Purdie, Grant Green Jr, Reuben Wilson
Marco Benevento
Garland Jeffries
John Cale (from Velvet Underground)
A.C. Reed (Chicago Blues Sax Legend)
JAZZ AND BEYOND:
Chico Hamilton (Jazz Legend)
Jackie Cain and Roy Kral
Arnie Lawrence
David Tronzo (Slide Guitar Master)
Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra
Sonny Sharrock (Avant Garde Guitar Legend)
Henry Butler, Bernstein and the Hot 9
David Amram
WORLD AND SPIRITUAL MUSIC:
Morley
Silvia Nakkach
Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors
Nawang Khechog (Tibetan Flute Master)
POETRY:
Robert Pinsky
John Sinclair
Andre Codrescu
Frank Messina
Barry Wallenstein
Jane Hoenberger