Flint is the first solo album by UK-born pianist, composer and producer Bill Laurance. A founding member of Jazz, Funk and World Music collective Snarky Puppy, he has also collaborated with Morcheeba, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and various dance companies.
With Bill Laurance on keyboards, Fender Rhodes and piano, Snarky Puppy’s leader and main arranger Michael League on electric and double bass, Robert “Sput” Searight on drums and percussions as well as a horn section on certain tracks, Flint is grounded in a modern jazz fusion sound.
But the addition of a string ensemble lends a unique “genre-bending” character to the compositions which constantly hesitate between a funk-jazz vibe and a more classical and almost cinematic atmosphere.
I feel I’ve been searching for this album ever since I started making music as a small boy, a sound that encapsulates all the music that I have come to love. This album is the coming together of years of searching and often not finding a sound that would satisfy me. Bill Laurance – Liner notes
The release of the Flint CD also comes with a live/in studio DVD capturing the performance of the songs filmed by Andy La Violette who has supervised every Snarky Puppy video production since their 2010 Tell Your Friends CD/DVD release. Several of these clips are available on the GroundUP Music YouTube channel.
Lyrical, uplifting and featuring jazz violinist and regular Snarky Puppy collaborator Zach Brock, “Chia” provides another fantastic snapshot of a crew of passionate musicians in full swing.
Flint was released on 6th May 2014 last on GroundUP Music.
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