Larry Porter

Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951, received his first piano lesson at age 6. He founded the group Children At Play with vibraphonist Tom van der Geld in Boston in 1971. Larry went to Germany in 1973 and played with Bobby Jones, Sal Nistico, Leszek Zadlo, Volker Kriegel, Kai Winding, Mel Lewis, Günter Lenz, and Head Heart and Hands. In 1976 he journeyed through Asia studying music in Afghanistan and India. From 1977-80 he lived in New York, worked as a pianist in the jazz scene, as a rebab and sarod player in the Indian music scene, and accompanied storyteller Laura Simms and dancers such as Merce Cunningham. Porter returned to Germany in 1981, worked with Bobby Stern, Frank St. Peter, Airto Moreira and Thad Jones, and formed a quartet with Allan Praskin, which recorded First Date in Spain and stayed together 11 years. From 1986-1994 he was very active playing with Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Archie Shepp, Benny Bailey, Heinz Sauer, Leo Wright, Don Menza, Al Cohn, Harvey Wainapel, Monty Waters, Conexiòn Latina, and singers Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, Rachel Gould, and Jeanne Carroll, as well as recording two CDs for Enja. Back in New York in the late 90s, Larry recorded the highly acclaimed CD The Magical Rebab of Larry Porter. He moved to Berlin at the turn of the century. Recorded many CDs as a leader and sideman: "the circle is unbroken" - Larry Porter Trio, "SONGS" - Larry Porter feat. Barbara Mayr, Mundell's Moods - Mundell Lowe & Hendrik Meurkens, "A Different View" - N. Glenn Davis Quartet, etc.