With his signature Hammond organ style and versatility on many keyboards, Boston native Larry Goldings has traversed not only the wide spectrum of jazz where he is perhaps best known, but also the worlds of funk, pop, and electronic/alternative music. High in demand as a sideman, Goldings' sound can be heard on scores of albums by artists in virtually every musical genre. Some of his more notable collaborations include tours and recordings with Carla Bley, Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Jim Hall, Jon Hendricks, Pat Metheny, Maceo Parker, Madeleine Peyroux, John Pizzarelli, John Scofield, Curtis Stigers, and James Taylor.
Under his own name, Goldings has made ten critically-acclaimed albums, many of them featuring his well-known organ trio with Peter Bernstein on guitar and Bill Stewart on drums. Goldings' most recent project, "Trio Beyond" (ECM), earned him, John Scofield, and Jack DeJohnette a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album (2006).
Larry Goldings' musical compositions have been recorded by such artists as Michael Brecker, Jim Hall, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Toots Thielemans, Curtis Stigers, Till Brönner, and Sia. His songs and arrangements have appeared in several motion pictures including Clint Eastwood's "Space Cowboys" and John Madden's "Proof."
"Quartet" (2006) is his newest recording for Palmetto Records. It features Goldings on piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, organ, harmonium, and accordion. The band is John Sneider (trumpet), Ben Allison (bass), Matt Wilson (drums), and guest vocalist Madeleine Peyroux. Of the seemingly disparate nature of the album, Goldings comments:
In the past few years I have delved into such a wide variety of music that denying those influences in the making of this record would have been dishonest. In fact, what interests me most these days is the challenge of melding my disparate influences into a cohesive and personal sound.
I am excited by the idea of having a Björk song alongside Gabriel Fauré, next to Chico Buarque, next to an American folk song. And then in my own writing, I like the freedom of going anywhere I want. Eclecticism is really "in" now, and I love it, but only when it's not forced....only when it sounds honest. The idea is to show the connections in music, how different genres across the centuries are all so beautifully related.
As leader:
Quartet
Sweet Science
As One
Voodoo Dogs
Moonbird
Awareness
Big Stuff
Whatever It Takes
Caminhos Cruzados
Light Blue
Intimacy of the Blues
As a sideman:
(alphabetically)
HARRY ALLEN:
I Won't Dance
Once Upon a Summertime
Christmas In Springtime
INDIA ARIE:
Acoustic Soul
WALTER BECKER:
upcoming release
PETER BERNSTEIN TRIO:
Live at Smoke (DVD)
Earth Tones
Brain Dance
MICHAEL BRECKER:
Time is of the Essence
CARLA BLEY:
4x4
JAMES BROWN:
(VHS) James Brown & MC Hammer
Live: HBO's Influence
TILL BRONNER:
Oceanna
DE LA SOUL:
Bahloone Mindstate
AOI: Bionics
STEVE GADD:
(DVD) American Drummers
Achievement Awards
SIA FURLER:
Colour The Small One
JESSE HARRIS:
Mineral
JIM HALL:
Something Special
Subsequently
AL JARREAU:
Accentuate the Positive
NORAH JONES:
Not Too Late
JOHN MAYER:
Continuum
JESSICA MOLASKEY:
Pentimento
Make Believe
JAMES MOODY:
Young at Heart
JOHN PIZZARELLI:
Knowing You
MACEO PARKER:
Life on Planet Groove
Mo' Roots
MADELEINE PEYROUX:
Careless Love
Half the Perfect World
CHRIS POTTER:
Pure
TIM RIES:
The Rolling Stones Project
Alternate Side
DAVID SANBORN:
Closer
JOHN SCOFIELD
That's What I Say (The music of Ray Charles)
Groove Elation
Hand Jive
Soundtrack:
Bamboozled
Soundtrack:
Music From Space Cowboys
(p/o/arranger)
BILL STEWART:
Keynote Speakers
CURTIS STIGERS:
I Think It's Going To Rain Today
You Inspire Me
Baby Plays Around
Secret Heart
JAMES TAYLOR:
October Road
A Christmas Album
A Musicares Person of the Year
Tribute (DVD)
TRIO BEYOND:
(Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Larry Goldings):
Saudades
MATT WILSON:
Arts and Crafts,
Wake Up! (To What's Happening)