Bill Laurance Goes Big At Southbank With WDR Band Bonanza

As the pianist puts it in his own words: “It’s Christmas Day for me today” – a reference to his delight at hearing his compositions reproduced onstage by a band of this size and quality. Cologne’s WDR Big Band turns out to be an excellent fit for Laurance’s compositions, naturally drawing out the sense of scale and adventure that many of them possess.  

This is evident in pieces like ‘Aftersun’, in which all the drama and lurking menace of outer space is conveyed brilliantly through the music, complete with a soaring guitar solo. The closer-to-home ‘Denmark Hill’ and ‘Swag Times’ are other highlights of the night, as is a rousing, set-closing rendition of ‘Red Sand’, with its irresistibly catchy opening hook. But in truth, every single arrangement takes you on a journey – invariably one from which you emerge grinning and hoping for more.  

The WDR big band produce a bold, bright sound, and each accomplished member is brimming with individual flair. One slightly unusual aspect of the night is the way in which the soloists prepare for their moment in the limelight by stepping out from the band and approaching the front of the stage in the manner of gameshow contestants. Still, it’s always nice to get a better view of the action. 

A decision to open the second half of the night on his own gives Laurance the opportunity to really showcase his chops, both as a pianist and an improvisor. “I have no idea what I’m about to play,” he confesses, semi-comically discarding some sheet music before producing an improvisation of breath-taking range, a meandering paean to his desire to live life in the moment.   

Laurance is seated at a grand piano for most of the night, occasionally making a rapid switch to an electric keyboard which faces away from the band. When this happens, he spends most of the time looking back over his shoulder, nodding along with band leader and arranger Bob Mintzer, as if needing to remind himself that it’s not all some fantastic dream. All in all, a night of palpable joy, yes for Bill Laurance, but also for the room as a whole.

– James Rybacki
– Photos by Tim Dickeson