Bill Laurance

Rhodes Mk8 Sessions

2024



Grammy-winning pianist, keyboardist, and composer Bill Laurance, who got his start with the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy and has since built a flourishing solo career, presents the latest 'Rhodes Sessions' recordings. In these sessions, Laurance explores the dynamic performance capabilities and diverse sound characteristics of the Rhodes MK8 piano through four original compositions, ranging from swing to indie rock. Recorded at The Nave studio in Pudsey, UK, these live recordings demonstrate the MK8's versatility and appeal to musicians across various styles and genres.

Laurance's four compositions — spanning indie rock, straight-ahead swing, funk, and a heartfelt ballad — demonstrate the MK8's versatility. "What excites me most about the MK8 is its capacity to accommodate a wider spectrum of styles," he said. Each track in the 'Rhodes Sessions' was crafted to showcase the full breadth of the instrument's capabilities, with Laurance drawing inspiration directly from the MK8 itself. "It's a whole new world," he enthused. "The MK8 is incredibly ambitious, integrating effects and the ability to assign pedals, which takes the instrument to another level."

Laurance was particularly inspired by the specific MK8 piano he used for the sessions, which had been signed by numerous renowned musicians who had tested out the unit previously. "Seeing the MK8 with all the signatures on it was incredible. Knowing that so many amazing musicians had played this instrument was truly inspiring. It felt as if the piano itself was a conduit for creativity, guiding the writing process," Laurance reflected.

The trios latest record since the “ZEAL EP” — which saw a limited physical release — the decision was made to combine the two records on Vinyl and CD under the title “Do What You Want”, now available exclusively on Bandcamp.

1

Set Piece

2

Do What You Want

3

Juju

4

What It Is

Release date:

23 August 2024


Label:

FlintMusic


Format:

Vinyl / CD / Digital