about
Los Angeles-based trumpet player, composer, producer and educator Chris Lawrence has over two decades of experience as a professional musician working in an extremely diverse array of music from Jazz, Big Band, Hip-Hop, Electronica, Rock, Pop, Classical, Top 40, Ska, Salsa, Reggae, Experimental, Ambient and more.
He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s in Music in 2005, and a K-12 teaching credential in music education from Michigan State University in 2008.
Since graduating, Chris has gone on to perform as a trumpet player in a wide array of styles with artists such as Melody Gardot, Josh Nelson and the Discovery Project, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Aaron Neville, and Linda Rondstadt, Mondo Cozmo, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Vintage Trouble, Nick Heyward of Haircut 100, The Marlonius Jazz Orchestra, Angel Town Combo, theBABAorchestra, Artyom Manukyan, Dylan Meek, and countless others.
PERFORMER
From 2005-2008, Lawrence worked as a trumpet player, arranger and musical director for Carnival Cruise Lines, traveling the world and performing many different styles of music six nights a week.
In 2011, Chris was selected as one of five finalists in the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition. The Caruso is regarded as the world's most prestigious competition for jazz trumpeters under the age of 30.
Lawrence has performed extensively around Los Angeles, the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and beyond with his own groups, Linosphere and the Chris Lawrence Quartet, and as a sideman for countless independent artists.
Lawrence has performed at some of Southern California’s most iconic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Staples Center, the Honda Center, the Greek Theater, and the Ford Theater, as well as top tier LA jazz clubs such as the Blue Whale, Sam First, ETA and the Lighthouse.
In addition, Lawrence has performed hundreds of weddings, private functions and corporate events with top level Southern California entertainment companies such as Lucky Devils, West Coast Music, Elan Artists, and Ben Mallare Entertainment.
Select recordings in which Lawrence can be heard as a soloist are Josh Nelson’s The Sky Remains and Live at the Blue Whale, Vol.1, Steph Johnson’s So in Love, Johannes Luley’s August, Sidney Jacob’s If I Were Your Woman, theBABAorchestra’s Marigold, and Michael Mull’s Live at the Ranch.
In addition, Lawrence co-released the album Timebox with the contemporary jazz fusion group Linosphere on Beakerbox Records.
COMPOSER
As a composer, Lawrence is currently serving clients in search of music for Synch Licensing, Television, Film, Multi-Media, Podcasts, as well as artists looking to add high quality horn arrangements to their songs and tracks.
Chris strives to meet the musical needs of top-level artists, vocalists, directors, producers, corporations, marketing agencies, and independent voice over actors. He is able to deliver broadcast quality, professionally produced tracks in a timely fashion that will help bring your project to life.
Lawrence is also a skilled multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flugelhorn, euphonium, piano, ukulele, percussion, bass and guitar), who performs, records and programs all instruments on his original music. You can listen to a selection of this music in the soundcloud players above, all of which is entirely written, performed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris.
Lawrence currently works out of his home studio in Los Angeles, CA, writing, producing, recording, and teaching music everyday.
He creates a wide range of styles, providing music for Film, TV, Ads and other media. Christopher can also provide you with for your project, which he can record and mix from his home studio at competitive prices.
EDUCATOR
Chris specializes in helping beginning and intermediate level trumpet players take their playing to the next level so that they may perform any style of music that they wish to play.
Lessons and goals are custom made and tailored to the needs of each individual student.
Concepts such as improving tone quality, intonation, accuracy, high notes and range, improvisation, playing in a top 40 horn section, technique needed for specific types of music and more are covered in weekly classes and lessons. Students receive constructive feedback, set goals, and very specific materials to help make their trumpet playing dreams become a reality.
No matter where you are at in your journey as a trumpet player, or what style(s) of music you hope to play, Chris can help you improve your trumpet playing and meet your musical goals. If this sounds like what you are looking for, let’s connect!