What's On

Bill Laurance & Michael League


Bill Laurance and Michael League_Spring 2025_1045

There are some duos which can seem as if they have been patched together. And there are others which come into being naturally and completely of their own accord.

The pairing of pianist Bill Laurance and bassist/oud player Michael League is very much one of the latter; the two musicians have known each other since student days. During a chance meeting in Leeds, England, as sidemen on a one-off project, the two quickly formed a musical bond that would grow through the formation of Snarky Puppy in 2004 and its development over years of touring together, a number of solo al-bums and collaborations, and finally, in 2020, the birth of their duo.

Bill Laurance and Michael League’s new duo album, Keeping Company, is at the opposite end of the spectrum from all the extraversion, large scale and sheer oomph of Snarky Puppy; the focus here is on a shared inner perspective. That much is apparent immediately from the choice of instruments. Laurance has cast aside electronic keyboards and concentrates on piano, acoustic in sound although the piano strings have been occasionally and lightly prepared. Michael League chooses a fretless acoustic bass guitar and the oud. An extreme contrast to the pure groove of Snarky Puppy, here he goes for a transparently sparse but atmospherically rich sound. They do just fine without the band, creating a special freedom for both participants.

‘For us to take a common project and drive it forwards together is an affirmation of who we are: we’re just good friends and we’re celebrating that with this album.’ – Bill Laurance

Opening the evening is Rosie Frater-Taylor, one of the most electrifying forces in contemporary British jazz. Rosie Frater-Taylor is a virtuoso guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of remarkable emotional depth. In equal parts a dedicated student of jazz guitar and admirer of iconic singer-songwriters, she seamlessly weaves rock, alt-pop, neo-soul, new-school jazz, and folk into her singular sound.


Tickets:

Full Price £22

Promoted by Serious.