Biography
Dividing his schedule between residences in the United States and France, Laurent de Wilde built receptive followings on both sides of the Atlantic. His third album as a leader, Open Changes, earned him the Django Reinhardt Award as Best French Musician of 1992. Beyond fronting his own ensembles, he contributed as a sideman to sessions led by Reggie Workman, Ralph Moore, Greg Osby, Joshua Redman, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aldo Romano, André Ceccarelli, Harold Land, and Tom Harrell. The first four of his own recordings included tenor saxophonist Joe Coleman, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and trumpet player Eddie Henderson. His fifth project, Spoon-a-Rhythm, issued in 1997, showcased St. Thomas-born drummer Dion Parson along with former Miles Davis and Weather Report percussionist Bobby Thomas Jr.
Born in Washington, D.C., de Wilde relocated to France prior to turning five. He pursued studies in philosophy at Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, then came back to the United States to enroll at Long Island University, where he formed a friendship with pianist Joey Calderazzo.
After establishing himself in New York, he received guidance from pianists Jim McNeely, Kirk Lightsey, and Mulgrew Miller. In 1986 he joined Eddie Henderson’s group and, the next year, issued his first album under his own name, Off the Boat. He continued with the albums Odd and Blue in 1989 and Colors of Manhattan in 1990. After signing with Sony Jazz France in 1994, he delivered his fourth release, The Back Burner, the following year.
In 1996 de Wilde wrote a biography of Thelonious Monk that was honored with the Charles DeLaunay Prize for Best Book on Jazz.
Born in Washington, D.C., de Wilde relocated to France prior to turning five. He pursued studies in philosophy at Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, then came back to the United States to enroll at Long Island University, where he formed a friendship with pianist Joey Calderazzo.
After establishing himself in New York, he received guidance from pianists Jim McNeely, Kirk Lightsey, and Mulgrew Miller. In 1986 he joined Eddie Henderson’s group and, the next year, issued his first album under his own name, Off the Boat. He continued with the albums Odd and Blue in 1989 and Colors of Manhattan in 1990. After signing with Sony Jazz France in 1994, he delivered his fourth release, The Back Burner, the following year.
In 1996 de Wilde wrote a biography of Thelonious Monk that was honored with the Charles DeLaunay Prize for Best Book on Jazz.
Albums
