Chris Laurence

Chris Laurence (born 6 January 1949) is an English musician. Born in London, he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and primarily works with jazz and classical music. In the classical world he was principal double bass with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields orchestra until 1995, playing on many of their recordings ranging from the film Amadeus to Benjamin Britten's Curlew River. He has recorded with many jazz artists, including trombonist J. J. Johnson, Tony Coe, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Clark Terry, Johnny Mathis, and Lena Horne. His most recent recordings include John Surman's The Spaces in Between (2007), Kenny Wheeler's The Long Waiting (2012) and Songs for Quintet on ECM Records, and Norma Winstone's Manhattan in the Rain (1998). He has also recorded music for television, film, and albums, most notably Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Ken Loach's Looking for Eric (2009), The Constant Gardener (2005), Howard Shore's score for Hugo (2011), and most recently was featured on the soundtrack of Mike Leigh's Mr. Turner (2014). In 2007, he recorded a CD with his own jazz quartet titled New View, released on the Basho label along with Frank Ricotti (vibes), John Parricelli (guitar), Martin France (drums), and featuring Norma Winstone (vocals).

As well as jazz and classical music, Laurence has also featured on albums with many stars including Elton John, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Joni Mitchell, David Gilmour, Michel Legrand, and guitarist John Williams.

Select discography
Chris Laurence Quartet (As leader)
 * New View (Basho) (2007)
 * Some Gnu Ones, Jazzin Britain (2021)

With David Gilmour
 * On an Island (Columbia)
 * Rattle That Lock (Columbia)

With Barry Guy/The London Jazz Composers' Orchestra
 * Ode (Incus, 1972)

With Michael Nyman With Emily Rose Laurence
 * The Cook The Thief His Wife & Her Lover (Virgin Venture)
 * The End of the Affair (Sony Classical)
 * Six Celan Songs/The Ballad of Kastriot Rexhepi (MN)
 * Love Counts (MN)
 * À la folie (Virgin Venture)


 * Relativity (2022)

With Alan Skidmore
 * T.C.B. (Philips)
 * El Skid w/ Elton Dean

With John Surman
 * Morning Glory
 * The Brass Project (ECM, 1992)
 * Stranger than Fiction (ECM, 1995)
 * Coruscating (ECM, 1999)
 * The Spaces in Between (ECM, 2006)

With John Taylor
 * Pause, and Think Again (Turtle)
 * Decipher (MPS)

With Kenny Wheeler With Brian Miller
 * Kayak (Ah Um, Ah Um )
 * Dream Sequence (Psi, 1995-2003 [2003])
 * Songs for Quintet (ECM, 2013 [2015])
 * Six for Six (Cam Jazz)
 * The Long Waiting


 * Whatever Next? (2015)

With John Horler


 * Not A Cloud In The Sky (2010)

With David Forman


 * Like A Rainbow (2022)

Fiachra Trench


 * Essential Classics (1989)

With Gareth Williams


 * Short Stories (2022)

With Stan Sultzman


 * On Loan With Gratitude (2023)

With Frank Ricotti Quartet
 * Our Point of View (CBS)
 * Frank Ricotti Stars (Beiderbecke Collection, 1988)

With Gordon Beck
 * Once Is Never Enough (FMR)

With John Williams
 * The Magic Box (Sony Classical)

With Elton Dean With the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields With Tony Coe With Lena Horne With Sarah Vaughn With Harry Beckett With Maurice Andrea/ Michel Legrand With Geoff Eales With Debbie Wiseman, Locrian Ensemble
 * They All Be on This Old Road (Ogun)
 * Curlew River
 * Amadeus
 * Messiah, (Live In Dublin)
 * Nutty on Wilisa
 * Les Sources Bleues Camomil
 * Mainly Mancini
 * A New Album
 * The Gold Collection: Sings the Poetry of Pope John Paul II
 * Warm Smiles
 * Flare Up
 * Windmills
 * Master of the Game
 * Transience


 * Wolf Hall

With Johnnie Mathis With Norma Winstone With Mike de Albuquerque With Peter Gabriel With Gil Evans With John Warren With Mike Figgis With Anja Garbarek With Brigitte Baraha With Helen Jane Long With Michel Legrand With Robert Farnon With Elton John With Joni Mitchell With Clark Terry With Guy Barker With Joe Douglas Trio With Michael Garrick/ Don Weller With The Mike Westbrook Concert Band With Neil Ardley With Andy Sheppard With Alan Davie With Alison Moyet With Elvis Costello With Mark Hollis With Zizi Possi With Dick Walter With the London Trombone Quartet With Michael Civisca With Beryl Cook With Morrissey With Gerd Dudek
 * In a Sentimental Mood
 * Manhattan in the Rain
 * Edge of Time
 * We May Be Castle but We All Have Names
 * First Wind
 * Scratch My Back (New Blood Orchestra)
 * New Blood
 * Absolute Beginners
 * Having It All
 * Va Va Voom
 * Insignificance
 * Travellers Tale
 * Leaving Las Vegas
 * Smiling and Waving
 * Babelfish
 * Chasing Rainbows
 * Once Upon A Tide
 * Intervention
 * Radio Days
 * Carol Kidd, A Place in My Heart
 * Jose Careres, Love Is (1984)
 * Jane Pickles, Hey There (Vocalion)
 * JJ Johnson, Tangence
 * Joe Williams, Here's To Life
 * Eileen Farrell, Love Is Letting Go
 * Madman Across The Water
 * Tumbleweed Connection
 * Both Sides Now
 * Travelogue
 * Clark After Dark
 * Holly
 * Visage (Spotlight Records, 1979)
 * You've Changed (1978)
 * Metropolis (Citadel 315)
 * Symphony of Amarantis
 * Dancing Man & Woman
 * Learning to Wave
 * Bird Through The Wall
 * Voice
 * Il Sogno (Ballet)
 * Mark Hollis (Polydor)
 * Per Amore
 * Capricorn Rising
 * Some of Our Best Friends
 * Love is Like a Breeze
 * Live From London
 * ''He Knows I'd Love to See Him (His Master's Voice, 1990)
 * 'Smatter (Psi, 1998 [2002])

Soundtracks

 * Amadeus – Peter Shaffer
 * Mr. Turner – Gary Yershon
 * Leaving Las Vegas – Anthony Marinelli and Mike Figgis
 * Hugo – Howard Shore
 * Looking for Eric – George Fenton
 * The Constant Gardener – Alberto Iglesias and Robert Church
 * Shaun the Sheep Movie – Ilan Eshkeri
 * The Man Who Cried – Kronos Quartet
 * Tim's Vermeer – Conrad Pope
 * The Duke- George Fenton