Doug Lawrence

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, saxophonist Doug Lawrence spent over 20 years making a name for himself in New York City. Among the artists Doug has performed and recorded with include - Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney, Billy Eckstine, Jimmy Cobb, Frank Wess, Anita O'Day, Buck Clayton, Dakota Staton, Wild Bill Davis, Benny Carter, Bobby Short, Eddie Durham, Stevie Wonder, Diane Schuur, Patti Austin, The Smithsonian Masterworks Orchestra, Dennis Mackrel's Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra, Rodney Dangerfield, George Bensen, Lizz Wright, Marlena Shaw, Clyde Stubblefield, Nnenna Freelon, Ledisi, Jamie Cullum, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many others. Doug has performed on six continents at virtually every major concert hall, jazz club and jazz festival in the world, including - Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, The Sydney Opera House, The Dewan Fhilharmonik Petronis Concert Hall in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore's Esplanade Concert Hall, The Blue Notes in Japan, Italy and New York, The Village Vangaurd, Blues Alley, Birdland, Ronnie Scott’s, The North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Newport, Chicago, Montreal, New Orleans, New York, Toronto, Telluride, Aspen, Playboy and Nice Jazz Festivals, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and many more. Doug has also performed for 5 American Presidents as well as the Queen of England, King of Thailand and the Royal Families of Monaco, Sweden and Spain. As the featured tenor saxophone soloist with the Legendary 19-time Grammy® award winning Count Basie Orchestra, Doug has toured the world extensively. The Basie Orchestra has no parallel in jazz. They have won more awards, polls and Grammys® than any other jazz big band in history. The chair Doug fills (1st tenor) has been inhabited by a virtual "who's who" of jazz tenor saxophonists. They include - Lester Young, Hershel Evans, Don Byas, Eli "Lucky" Thompson, Budd Johnson, Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, Wardell Gray, Paul Quinechette, Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell, Sal Nistico, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Jimmy Forrest, Eric Schneider and Kenny Hing. Doug appeared in the Broadway Show "Come Fly Away" as principle saxophone soloist from 2009 thru 2012. This show, based on the music of Frank Sinatra and the choreography of Twyla Tharp featured an all-star big band performing on stage. "Come Fly Away" began in Atlanta, went to Broadway, and toured nationally in the US and Japan in it's 3 year run. Doug was also an original member of the first National Tour of "Sister Act" which ran from September 2012 to July 2014. Doug’s newest band features him on tenor sax, Bruce Harris on trumpet, Lauren Sevian on bari sax, Bobby Floyd on Hammond B3 organ, Ray Macchiarola on guitar and Dave Gibson on drums. Doug's previous recordings as leader include the critical and commercial hits - Soul Carnival (#3 Jazz Charts USA), High Heel Sneakers (#11 Jazz Charts USA), Street Wise (Top 25 Jazz Albums of Year Japan), Big Band Swing (4 stars All Music Guide) and New Organ Trio featuring Doug’s long-time colleagues Dan Trudell and George Fludas. Learn more about Doug Lawrence and buy downloads of his music at www.douglawrencejazz.com