The Alvin Batiste Jazz Society of Greater Baton Rouge/Listening Room Series invites you to Arts Council of Baton Rouge/Cary Saurage Community Arts Center for the Lawrence Sieberth's "Estrella Banda"!! Join Larry and an all-star lineup of musicians as they explore his original

compositions in the deep Latin music tradition!

About Larry:

Pianist, composer, and producer Lawrence Sieberth is at home in virtually any musical setting. While based in jazz, Lawrence’s musical vision is not limited by genre barriers—he prefers to integrate the many facets of music and performance into an engaging, inclusive experience. His own neobop improvisations and experimental inclinations combine with his classical and world music influences providing an extensive musical vocabulary for both performances and compositions for television, film, and stage.

Lawrence Sieberth’s album ‘New New Orleans’ finds him literally center stage, a solo piano set wherein traditional New Orleans jazz pieces get a brilliant surveying with some judicious modern overtones sprinkled throughout them. That same year saw the far side of the spectrum via ‘Arkipelago’, an album exploring the area(s) where the ethereal overlaps with the earthy, where fevered fantasy coalesces with funk, the Second Line strolls Alpha Centauri. In the most recent album ‘It’s Magic’ in collaboration with singer Germaine Bazzle, Sieberth’s exemplary skills as accompanist come to the fore—songs such as “Bye Bye Blackbird” and “Sophisticated Lady” are not merely covered but made anew, the notes dangling from his fingertips as if they were dipped in honey. ‘Silhouettes’, featuring his quartet, explores the acoustic side of contemporary jazz and his recent explorations into fiery afrocuban and funk rhythms are exemplified on his recording ‘Estrella Banda’, both albums featuring his own compositions and pianistic technical prowess. His recently release ‘An Evening in Paris’ was recorded in Paris and is garnering very favorable reviews on the international scene.

His local ensembles vary from New Orleans traditional to questing improvisations, from the avantgarde to mainstream jazz and R&B. He has performed at virtually every venue in New Orleans, from small clubs to the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival where he has been a regular featured artist and musical director of over 30 years. His collaborations with notable local performers include: Johnny Adams, Charles Neville, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Tony Dagradi, John Vidacovich, Luther Kent, Brian ‘Breeze’ Cayolle, Victor Goines, and Jason Marsalis. He presently performs and tours with Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo Jazzband and vocalist Germaine Bazzle.

As solo pianist, Lawrence was a mainstay at Mr. B’s restaurant for 12 years as well as playing for diners at the Windsor Court Hotel, ‘The Sazerac Lounge’ at the ‘Fairmont Hotel’ and ’Ralph’s On the Park’. The local venues where he performed regularly with groups included ‘The Palace Cafe’, ‘The Monteleone Hotel’ and the ‘Royal Sonesta Hotel’ to name a few. Beginning as the solo pianist for Gino’s Restaurant, the music evolved into the most successful jazz venue in Baton Rouge history, bringing in major New Orleans’ talent where jazz quartets performed several times a week. Performers included Luther Kent, Eliane Elias, Gene Bertoncini and Red Tyler just to name a very few. The 1991 CD release of ‘I Migliori: Live at Gino’s’ was a major success of this tenure which lasted for over18 years.

Lawrence Sieberth has been a commissioner on the Louisiana Music Commission and was honored by New Orleans Magazine (1998) as outstanding contemporary jazz pianist. His CD Heartstrings was chosen by Jazziz (1995) in their ‘Keyboards on Fire’ special issue. Lawrence has received numerous grants including the Louisiana Artist Fellowship Award and the 2009 Asante Award and is a recent recipient of the Community Partnership Grant sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.