Pianist, composer, and producer Lawrence Sieberth is at home in virtually any musical setting. While based in jazz, Lawrence’s musical vision is not limited by genre barriers—he prefers to integrate the many facets of music and performance into an engaging, inclusive experience. His own neo-bop improvisations and experimental inclinations combine with his classical and world music influences, providing an extensive musical vocabulary for both performances and compositions for television, film, and stage.

He serves as musical director and pianist for “First Lady of New Orleans Jazz” aka “The Grand Dame of New Orleans Jazz,” Ms. Germaine Bazzle, tours with Gerald French & The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, and has collaborated regularly with icons such as Irma Thomas, Victor Goines, late greats Allen Toussaint, Johnny Adams and Charles Neville, as well as contemporaries like Jason Marsalis, Tony Dagradi, Johnny Vidacovich, Luther Kent and more.

He has released 7 albums as a bandleader under his name, and produced/arranged a series of New Orleans music compilations, in addition to more than two dozen film, television, and theatre credits as a composer, producer, arranger and performer (including “Bessie,” “Mudbound,” “Green Lantern,” “Dukes of Hazzard”). 
 

Reeds player James Evans arrived in New Orleans in 2013 from London by way of North Wales, chasing his dream of pursuing the music and the city he loved so much. In the UK, James played with more than a dozen well known jazz and R&B bands, plus led four of his own groups, including some orchestral works. 

Evans has now called New Orleans home for over 10 years and since his arrival has been playing with many local jazz luminaries, such as Leroy Jones, Gregg Stafford, Steve Pistorius, Kevin Louis, Seva Venet, Lucien Barbarin, Gerald French, Shannon Powell, The Shotgun Jazz Band, The Smoking Time Jazz Club, Tuba Skinny, and many more staples of New Orleans trad jazz. 

In addition to performing at renowned venues like Preservation Hall, Palm Court, and the largest local music festivals, James released four albums in just the past 4 years, with more on the way. Lately, you can find him experimenting with some of the city’s avant-garde players, and exploring new collaborations like the one we’ll hear tonight.