Laurie Z

Few artists can mix classical, modern jazz and contemporary instrumental styles as gracefully as keyboardist and composer Laurie Z. With four releases to her credit, Laurie's music has been heard over the airwaves on hundreds of radio stations around the world. Her titles include Window To The World, Life Between The Lines, Roots: The Solo Piano Album, and Heart of the Holidays. Laurie has performed at major clubs in Los Angeles, including The Troubadour and The Roxy, and has opened for such respected instrumentalists as Herbie Hancock, Leo Kottke and Tim Weisberg. Laurie was classically trained starting at age 4, has been performing live since age 5, and composing since age 16. She has extended her education and experience well beyond the bounds of classical music, with influences as diverse as Mozart, Beethoven, Elton John, Bruce Hornsby, and Alan Parsons.
 

Heart of the Holidays is a celebration of the season that wells up from deep within, and rings forth in each and every cut on this joyous recording.

From the stunning keyboard work on traditional classics such as "Bring a Torch" and "Little Drummer Boy," to the unexpected syncopation of "What Child Is This?" and the light-hearted reverence of the "Carol of the Bells," Laurie breathes remarkable life and feeling into familiar tunes. Included are creative new interpretations of traditional Chanukah songs ""Mo'oz Tsur" and "Sivivon," along with two new original numbers that easily hold their own next to songs we all know by heart. Listeners will walk away humming the melodies of the title tune and "Warmth From Within," which was written for the beautiful album cover oil painting by renowned artist Jesse Anderson.