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Trumpeter Josh Lawrence is the founder of Color Theory, a jazz ensemble for which he
composes works fusing swing, the blues, Afro-Cuban music, and hip-hop. Lawrence uses
sound to paint expressionist portraits and landscapes inspired by art, architecture, philosophy,
and social observation.
Lawrence's new record Contrast (2018, Posi-Tone) uses both his instrument and his skills
as a bandleader to succeed in making another inspired statement exploring several different
musical avenues with his Color Theory project. The album features saxophonist Caleb
Curtis, pianists Orrin Evans & Zaccai Curtis, bassist Luques Curtis, and drummer Anwar
Marshall.
Color Theory’s 2017 debut Posi-Tone Records release led to a Chamber Music America
New Jazz Works award for his Lost Works Suite (premiering 2018) inspired by painter and
art theorist Vasily Kandinsky's first three compositions which were destroyed during World
War II.
Now living in New York, Lawrence studied at the University of the Arts in his hometown
Philadelphia. There he co-founded the Fresh Cut Orchestra, an experimental electro-jazz
ensemble that won a Pew Center Philadelphia Music Project grant, an American Composers
Forum Subito grant, a Kimmel Center Jazz Residency, and released two albums
with Ropeadope Records.
Lawrence is also the co-founder of oljo creative minds, a NY-based multimedia production
company started in partnership with designer/photographer Ola Baldych. Other work includes
collaborations with pianist Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band and Tarbaby as
well as recordings with saxophonist Caleb Curtis, bassist Jonathan Michel, vocalist Laurin
Talese, guitarist Matt Davis' Aerial Photograph , R&B legends Boyz II Men, and the great
Erykah Badu.
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