Laurence Hobgood

Progressive and contemporary jazz piano virtuoso Laurence Hobgood entered the world on December 23, 1949, in Salisbury, NC, where his father directed the theater department at Catawba College. Throughout his early years the family followed his father's successive professional appointments, eventually settling in Dallas, TX, where the elder Hobgood joined the faculty and later chaired the theater program at Southern Methodist University. Hobgood launched formal classical piano training at age six in Dallas, creating his own interpretations of Bach and Chopin; at age 12 he first encountered blues music at his family's church; and for three years he performed on Fender Rhodes electric piano with the country ensemble known as the Kingsmen. Several years afterward, after the family relocated to Illinois, he pursued structured jazz studies at Urbana High School and subsequently at the University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana, another institution that employed his father. For three years he appeared in the university's leading jazz ensemble under John Garvey while continuing classical instruction with Ian Hobson.

After completing his degree, Hobgood moved to Chicago and formed his own trio, collaborated with guitarist Fareed Haque, and in 1992 recruited drummer Paul Wertico and bassist Eric Hochberg to create first the New Trio and later Union, which also featured bassist Brian Torff. He further joined saxophonist Ed Peterson's ensemble, a group that performed regularly at the Green Mill nightclub. Peterson counted among his acquaintances the rising vocalist Kurt Elling. Hobgood and Elling quickly became close friends and artistic partners, remaining together throughout Elling's rapid ascent in the jazz vocal arena, where Hobgood serves as co-producer and music director. Hobgood has released multiple albums on the British-based NAIM label and has worked in Chicago alongside Jim Gailloreto, John Moulder, and Brad Wheeler, as well as on a wider platform with Clark Terry, Gary Burton, Eddie Daniels, Sheila Jordan, Bob Mintzer, Mark Whitfield, Jackie Allen, Eden Atwood, and Bob Belden when not engaged with Elling. In 1995, Hobgood and Elling received the Chicago Tribune's designation as Chicagoans of the Year in the Arts. They have earned repeated Grammy and Down Beat magazine nominations, along with numerous high placements and awards, and have performed across the United States and internationally at festivals and in prominent venues and clubs. They continue to appear regularly at the Green Mill during their time in Chicago.