PIERS LAWRENCE QUARTET

Piers Lawrence a soulful, melodic guitarist, and prolific songwriter was born in Manhattan, raised in San Francisco, and Geneva, Switzerland,where he studied Guitar and Composition at the Conservatoire de Musique de Lausanne.

Upon his return to New York, he joined the world-renowned, Harlem-based, Jazz-Mobile Orchestra Big Band while he continued his studies with jazz greats Barry Galbraith and Ted Dunbar. Soon he was playing Broadway shows including 'Guys and Dolls', 'Dancin', 'Hubie', and 'Your Arms Too Short to Box With God' and touring and recording with Wilson Picket, The Main Ingredient, Ester Phillips, Phyilis Hyman, The Caribbean Allstars and Merl Saunders.

Today, he's back in New York City, bringing his love of jazz music both to the live stage and to internet radio, where he produces and hosts "Manhattan Jazz" on www.TribecaRadio.net. His record label, JazzNet Media produces independent projects such as "Stolen Moments" which features three original tunes, Samba Christina, Everytime and Dimanche.

THE PIERS LAWRENCE QUARTET BIOS:

As Chuk Fowler puts it, "I had the great good fortune to be born and raised in Haaarlem", by which he means, 119th Street during the end of the Harlem Renaissance. His early influences include Nat "King" Cole, Hampton Hawes, and Miles Davis and after studying with Sir Roland Hanna and Sonny Stitt's father, Edward Boatner, he has gone on to play with Kenny Durham, Hank Mobley, Billy Higgins and Harry "Sweets" Edison.

After receiving a B.A. in Music Education at Queens College in New York City, he was awarded a Noble Fellowship with which he earned a Masters Degree in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has worked as an educator and administrator for the New York City School System for over twenty-five years while developing his unique personal style as a jazz pianist and composer.

Jim Hankins, comes to us from Detroit, MI, where he grew up in a jazz musician-rich neighborhood that was home to icons such as Barry Harris, Charles McPherson, Donald Byrd and Kenny Burrell. Jim has worked with jazz greats such as Sonny Stitt, Lou Rawls, Wes Montgomery, Donald Byrd and Betty Carter.

He also worked at his "neighborhood studio", otherwise know as Motown Records, where he was a back-up to legendary Motown bassist and good friend, James Jamerson. He recorded for Motown as well with Lou Rawls and Sonny Stitt. Jim is also a cast member of the long running, award-winning, stage production of "The Devils Music - The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith" staring Jim's niece Miche' Braden.

Sir Earl Grice started on the drums at the advanced age of four, playing for his parents gospel choir in Newark, New Jersey. His early influences include Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, "Papa" Jo Jones and his all time favorite musician is John Coltrane with Elvin Jones. Earl also has impressive credits as an actor, he's appeared in over forty films and television productions starting with a Bronx Tale in 1992.

He says that playing drums for Patti LaBelle on the Cosby Show is one of the highlights of this side of his creative life and he will appear in the new film, American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington. As a drummer Sir Earl has appeared with Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Stevie Wonder and George Benson.