Larry Goldings

Larry Goldings stands out as a pianist of remarkable range whose reputation rests on an ability to merge driving, harmonically intricate post-bop with earthy, groove-oriented organ jazz. Breaking through in the first years of the 1990s, he quickly became one of the leading improvisers on the New York circuit, most often appearing at the helm of his own trio alongside guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart. Over the ensuing decades he has released a steady succession of acclaimed recordings, among them the 1995 album Whatever It Takes, the 2002 release Sweet Science, and the 2007 Grammy-nominated Saudades recorded with drummer Jack DeJohnette and guitarist John Scofield. A longstanding member of James Taylor’s road band, Goldings has also been recruited by an eclectic roster of artists that includes Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Maceo Parker, Sia, and Charlie Haden. While continuing to pursue straight-ahead jazz projects such as the 2022 trio album Perpetual Pendulum, he has broadened his palette by weaving classical and electronic textures into 2021’s Earthshine and the 2024 collaboration Big Foot with tap dancer Melinda Sullivan.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1968, Goldings studied classical piano through age twelve under his father’s encouragement, a dedicated listener of that tradition. His interest in jazz took hold during his years at Concord Academy, sparked by an introduction, arranged by a friend of his father’s, to pianist Dave McKenna, whose playing left a lasting mark. Goldings then immersed himself in the work of Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Red Garland, and Bill Evans while pursuing private instruction from Ran Blake and Keith Jarrett.

Following graduation he entered the jazz program at New York’s The New School, refining his craft under Jaki Byard and Fred Hersch. During this time he traveled with pianist Roland Hanna to Copenhagen for three days of private concerts that placed him alongside Sarah Vaughan, Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, Harry “Sweets” Edison, and Al Cohn. Before completing his studies he also toured with vocalist Jon Hendricks, an engagement that opened the door to further work with guitarist Jim Hall.

Upon receiving his degree in 1990, Goldings formed his own trio with Bernstein and Stewart, securing a regular engagement at Augie’s Jazz Bar, later known as Smoke. His first album as a leader, 1991’s Intimacy of the Blues, presented the trio with guest saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman. A second trio recording, Light Blue, followed the next year, succeeded by the bossa-nova-inflected organ date Caminhos Cruzados, which included several tracks featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman.

Goldings joined the Warner Bros. roster in 1995 and issued two organ-focused albums beginning with Whatever It Takes. The funky, hard-bop-oriented session reunited him with Bernstein and Stewart while adding guest appearances by saxophonists Maceo Parker, David Sanborn, and Redman plus trombonist Fred Wesley. The 1996 follow-up Big Stuff retained a comparable approach, teaming the pianist with Bernstein, drummer Idris Muhammad, and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. For his final Warner Bros. project, 1997’s Awareness, Goldings returned to piano in the company of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Paul Motian, both longtime associates of Keith Jarrett.

He subsequently moved to Palmetto Records, releasing the trio album As One with Bernstein and Stewart. Additional Palmetto titles included the Hammond-driven Sweet Science and the 2006 recording Quartet, which featured trumpeter/cornetist John Sneider, bassist Ben Allison, and drummer Matt Wilson.

In the same era he joined drummer Jack DeJohnette and guitarist John Scofield for a 2004 concert at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall; the resulting album Saudades appeared in 2006 and earned Goldings a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Album of the Year. In 2010 he collaborated with the Dutch Metropole Orkest on two projects: When Larry Met Harry with saxophonist Harry Allen and Scenes from a Dream alongside Peter Erskine and Chris Minh Doky.

The solo-piano recording In My Room arrived in 2011, the same year the original trio reunited for the concert album Live at Smalls. The three musicians reconvened again for 2014’s Ramshackle Serenade. Goldings also appeared on the 2014 session We’re Back with Ron Carter, Gerry Gibbs, and Kenny Barron. In 2017 he toured with John Mayer in support of The Search for Everything, returning the following year with the trio album Toy Tunes once more featuring Bernstein and Stewart.

Further ventures explored broader stylistic terrain, including two projects with Pomplamoose singer/songwriter Jack Conte’s Scary Pockets collective—Scary Goldings and The Ego Trap—as well as the 2020 duo album Tie Me To You with singer/guitarist Kathleen Grace. In 2022 the longstanding organ trio with Bernstein and Stewart issued Perpetual Pendulum on Smoke Sessions, while Earthshine showcased Goldings’s interest in classical and electronic production. A similarly expansive, synthesizer-rich aesthetic shaped 2024’s Big Foot, his collaboration with tap dancer Melinda Sullivan.