Dec 3, 2018 | Howard Reich

Thirty years ago, a little-known pianist from Champaign-Urbana moved to Chicago and quickly aced a standing engagement in one of the city’s top jazz rooms, the Green Mill. 

Since then, Laurence Hobgood…

It’s easy to hear similarities between Laurence Hobgood’s piano and that of Brad Mehldau, who shares primary influences (Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans). But Hobgood, known for his years as Kurt Elling’s musical director, differentiates himself via another cluster…

April 22, 2017 | Howard Reich 

For two decades, pianist Laurence Hobgood was best known as accompanist and primary arranger for singer Kurt Elling. 

When the two abruptly parted company in 2013, one wondered how Hobgood would…

When the British singer Barb Jungr was growing up in Manchester, she recalled on Saturday evening, the images on an album cover of “South Pacific” gave her the illusion that a tropical island was a safe, paradisiacal refuge. At…

It is now four and a half years since the 18-year partnership between pianist LAURENCE HOBGOOD and vocalist Kurt Elling came to an end. The pianist has several new projects, and will be doing dates with his trio in the…

MUSIC 
THE LAURENCE HOBGOOD TRIO ★★★★ 
The Jazzlab, Brunswick 

Laurence Hobgood: Precise musical vision

Australia isn’t exactly a new destination for Laurence Hobgood. The American pianist has toured here close to a dozen times, playing in clubs and…

HOWARD REICH | OCTOBER 10, 2015

Anyone who has heard Laurence Hobgood already knows that he's one of the most accomplished jazz pianists working today.  

But the melodic urgency, tonal sheen and improvisational creativity of his art…

BY PHIL JOHNSON | SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2009

Welcome to a new piano star. Better known as the long-standing musical partner of Kurt Elling, Hobgood arrives at the top jazz table with this atmospheric album of duets with bassist…

This is 25-year-old Arianna Neikrug’s debut album, and a startling experience it can be, if you’re unprepared for it. Instead of the customary glossy full orchestra there is a piano trio, and the pianist (also arranger and producer) is…