Larry Goldings

Life and career

Goldings was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father was a classical music enthusiast, and Larry studied classical piano until the age of twelve. While in high school at Concord Academy, he attended a program at the Eastman School of Music. During this period Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Dave McKenna, Red Garland, and Bill Evans were prime influences. As a young teenager, Goldings studied privately with Ran Blake and Keith Jarrett.

Goldings moved to New York in 1986 to attend a newly formed jazz program under the leadership of Arnie Lawrence at The New School. During college he studied piano with Jaki Byard and Fred Hersch. While still a freshman, Roland Hanna invited Goldings to accompany him to a three-day private jazz party in Copenhagen. While there, Goldings met jazz legends Sarah Vaughan, Kenny Burrell, Tommy Flanagan, and Hank Jones; and he also played piano in a band with Vaughan, Harry "Sweets" Edison, and Al Cohn. While still a college student, he embarked on a worldwide tour with Jon Hendricks and worked with him for a year. A collaboration lasting almost three years with jazz guitarist Jim Hall followed.

In 1988, Goldings began his development as an organist during a regular gig at a pianoless bar called Augie's Jazz Bar (now Smoke) on New York's Upper West Side. He was featured with several bands, and his own trio with guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart got its start there. His first release was Intimacy of the Blues in 1991.

Over the course of his career, his distinctive keyboard sound has been sought out by pop, jazz, R&B, Brazilian, and alternative artists, including De La Soul, India.Arie, Tracy Chapman, Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot, Michael McDonald, Beck, Walter Becker, Steve Gadd, Leon Russell, Rickie Lee Jones, Sia, John Mayer, Herbie Hancock, and Norah Jones.

Record producers he has worked with include: Russ Titelman, Larry Klein, Steve Jordan, Tommy LiPuma, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Larry Williams, Chad Fischer, Busbee, Blake Mills, Mike Viola, and T Bone Burnett.

He has collaborated with musicians such as Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Carla Bley, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny, John Pizzarelli, Jack DeJohnette, Anthony Wilson and Jim Keltner, Mike Viola, and Charlie Haden, in genres including jazz, Brazilian, funk, and pop music as pianist (since 2001) for singer-songwriter, James Taylor.

In 2007, Larry Goldings, Jack DeJohnette and John Scofield, received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Jazz Instrumental Album Individual or Group for their live album, Trio Beyond - Saudades (ECM).

In 2012 and 2013, Goldings was selected to participate in both the Sundance Institute Documentary Film and Sundance Feature Film Composer Fellowship Programs. At the Documentary Film Lab in Sundance, Utah, Goldings scored scenes from filmmaker Johanna Hamilton's "1971." Goldings continued with Sundance Institute in 2013, at the feature film lab held for the first time in Skywalker Ranch, Marin County. There, he collaborated with filmmaker Pamela Romanowsky, scoring scenes from her film The Adderall Diaries. Goldings' Advisors in that program included noted film composers Mark Isham, Heitor Pereira, Harry Gregson-Williams, and Thomas Newman.

In 2016, Goldings was asked to join John Mayer for his first tour in three years, alongside compatriots Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan. They have been recording in the studio and are gearing up for a worldwide tour to include the United States, Europe, and South America in 2017.

Style and influences

Goldings' melodic style of organ playing has often been compared to that of Larry Young. On organ, Goldings cites as his first inspirations the solo piano style of Dave McKenna "who walks his own bass lines better than anyone" and Billy Preston accompanying Aretha Franklin on "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Other musical influences cited by Goldings include the Wes Montgomery records featuring Mel Rhyne and Jimmy Smith; Shirley Scott; Chester Thompson; Joe Zawinul; and Jack McDuff.

On piano, Goldings improvisational skills, command of the harmonic language, and melodic writing are well known especially among his jazz peers. His inspirations range from Maurice Ravel and Sergei Prokofiev to Teddy Wilson and Randy Newman. He is known for his ability to craft timeless, memorable melodies, often in the moment of performance.

Compositions and arrangements

Goldings' compositions have been recorded by Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Bob Dorough, Jim Hall, Jane Monheit, John Scofield, Curtis Stigers, Toots Thielemans, Lea Michele, Gaby Moreno, and Sia. The song "Battlefield", which he wrote with Sia, appeared on Lea Michele's first album. He accompanied James Taylor on the live album One Man Band.

In 2013, Goldings was asked by filmmaker Jeff Garlin to compose music with "a Nino Rota feeling" for the film Dealing with Idiots. Goldings composed, performed, and produced the soundtrack. The score features the song "Calm Me Down" during the end credits. The song was performed by Goldings, Steve Nistor, and Mike Viola.

Goldings' songs and arrangements appear in the films Funny People, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, Neighbors, The Founder, Proof, Space Cowboys, Trainwreck, and in the TV show Masters of Sex. He is a featured performer in The Dream's on Me (2009), a documentary directed by Clint Eastwood, and appeared in Bernard and Doris and 20 Feet from Stardom. His song "Daydream by Design" can be heard in TV commercials.

Awards and honors

Best Jazz Album of the Year, The New Yorker, Big Stuff (1996), Awareness (1997)

Organist/Keyboardist of the Year, Jazz Journalists Association, 2000, 2001

Grammy Award Nomination, Best Jazz Album of the Year, 2007

Grammy Award Nomination, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, 2017

Selected discography

Intimacy of the Blues, (Verve, 1991)

Light Blue, (Minor Music, 1992)

Caminhos Cruzados, (Novus/BMG, 1994)

Whatever It Takes, (Warner Bros., 1995)

Big Stuff, (Warner Bros., 1996)

Awareness, (Warner Bros., June 17, 1997)

Moonbird, (Palmetto, 1999)

Voodoo Dogs, (Palmetto, 2000)

As One 2001, (Palmetto, 2000)

Sweet Science, (Palmetto, 2002)

Quartet, (Palmetto, 2006)

Saudades, by Trio Beyond (ECM, 2006)

Long Story Short, (Sticky Mack, 2007)

The Carriage House Sessions, (Sweet Song, 2009)

When Larry Met Harry, (Café Society, 2010)

In My Room, (BFM Jazz, 2011)

Ramshackle Serenade, (Pirouet, 2014)

Selected sideman discography

The Search for Everything, 2017, John Mayer (Organ, Keyboards)

Darkness and Light, 2016, John Legend (Hammond Organ)

Way Back Home: Live in Rochester, NY, 2016, Steve Gadd Band (Composer, Hammond Organ, Piano)

Country For Old Men, 2016, John Scofield (Hammond Organ, Piano)

Ilusion, 2016, Gaby Moreno (Composer, Hammond Organ, Piano)

Grease Live 2016 (Hammond B3 Organ)

Short Stories, 2016 Dominic Farinacci (Composer, Arranger, Organ, Piano)

The Good Life, 2016, Till Bronner (Piano)

Before This World, 2015, James Taylor (Accordion, Fender Rhodes, Harmonium, Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer)

Currency of Man, 2015, Melody Gardot (Organ)

Midnight McCartney, 2015, John Pizzarelli (Arranger, Organ, Piano)

Next Year People, 2015, Colin Hay (Piano)

No Wrong No Right, 2015, Jesse Harris (Organ)

Annie 2014 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack], 2014, (Hammond B3, Piano)

Bad Poetry, 2014, Rebecca Pidgeon (Organ)

It's the Girls, 2014, Bette Midler (Hammond B3 Organ)

Louder, 2014, Lea Michele (Piano, Composer)

Keep Me in Your Heart for Awhile: The Best of Madeleine Peyroux, 2014, Madeleine Peyroux (Celeste, Hammond B3 Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer Piano)

Life Journey, 2014, Leon Russell (Hammond B3 Organ)

Silver Linings, 2014, Milow (Celeste, Chimes, Engineer, Hammond B3, Marimba, Melodica, Orchestral Bells, Piano, Producer, Vibraphone)

Smokey & Friends, 2014, Smokey Robinson (Organ, Wurlitzer)

Song Reader, 2014, Beck (Piano)

Sunset, 2014, Jim Oblon (Featured Artist)

Gattitude, 2014, Steve Gadd (Composer, Piano, Hammond B3 Organ, Keyboards)

Didn't It Rain, 2014, Hugh Laurie (Piano, Hammond B3 Organ)

After Blue, 2013, Tierney Sutton (Hammond B3, Piano)

The Diving Board, 2013, Elton John (Hammond B3 Organ)

Joged Kahyangan, 2013, Dewa Budjana (Piano, Hammond Organ)

Bringing It Back Home, 2013, Robben Ford (Hammond Organ)

How I Knew Her, 2013, Nataly Dawn (Piano)

The Heart of the Matter, 2013, Jane Monheit (Composer, Piano)

The Mystery of You, 2013, Spencer Day (Composer, Arranger, Piano)

Till Brönner, 2013, Till Brönner (Composer, Keyboards)

The Blue Room, 2013, Madeleine Peyroux (Hammond Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer Piano)

Blossom, 2012, Amanda Brecker (Celeste, Fender Rhodes, Glockenspiel, Hammond B3, Piano, Wurlitzer)

Blossom & Bee, 2012, Sara Gazarek (Album Producer, Composer, Arranger, Melodica, Organ, Piano)

Casey Abrams, 2012, Casey Abrams (Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer)

Continuum/Heavier Things, 2012, John Mayer (Keyboards, Organ)

Let's Go Out Tonight, 2012, Curtis Stigers (Organ, Piano)

Double Exposure, 2012, John Pizzarelli (Organ)

Look Out Now, 2012, The Gaddabouts (Organ, Piano, Accordion, Keyboards)

Organic Instrumentals, 2012, The Michael Landau Group (organ)

Clocked, 2012, Noam Weinstein (piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, Suzuki Andes)

A Moment's Peace, 2011, John Scofield (piano and organ)

Illustrated Songs, 2011, Gaby Moreno (piano, organ, celeste, keyboards, composer)

Alela Diane & Wild Divine, 2011, Alela Diane (accordion, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer)

Ray Charles Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters, 2010 (piano, organ)

Fly Me to the Moon...The Great American Songbook Vol 5, 2010, Rod Stewart (piano, synthesizer)

At the End of the Day, 2010, Till Brönner (Hammond B3 organ)

Scenes from a Dream, 2010, Chris Minh Doky, Larry Goldings, Peter Erskine with Vince Mendoza and the Metropole Orkest (piano)

Home, 2010, Jane Monheit (piano, composer)

The Distance Between Two Truths, 2010, Mark Sholtez (piano, composer)

6 String Theory, 2010, Lee Ritenour (organ, clavinet, Fender Rhodes)

Nikki, 2010, Nikki Yanofsky (organ, piano, glockenspiel)

Bionic, 2010, Christina Aguilera (piano)

The Imagine Project, 2010, Herbie Hancock (organ)

Canyon Cove, 2010, Bob Mintzer (organ, composer)

vosotros presents: Rhoda, 2010, Rhoda (celeste)

Other Covers, 2009 James Taylor (piano, organ, pump organ, accordion)

Bare Bones, 2009, Madeleine Peyroux (Hammond organ, pump organ)

Alas y Raices, 2009, Eros Ramazzotti (piano, electric piano, organ)

Last Kiss, 2009, Zachary Richard (piano, Hammond organ)

Tide, 2009, Luciana Souza (organ, piano, accordion, pump organ, Fender Rhodes piano)

My One and Only Thrill, 2009, Melody Gardot (Hammond organ)

Jack of Hearts, 2009, Anthony Wilson (organ, celeste, composer)

Our Bright Future, 2008, Tracy Chapman (piano, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer)

Some People Have Real Problems, 2008, Sia (keyboards)

Incandescence, 2008, Bill Stewart (Hammond organ, accordion)

Covers, 2008, James Taylor (piano, organ, cello arrangement)

Stones World: The Rolling Stones Project, 2008, Tim Ries (organ)

Thirteens, 2008, Leona Naess (keyboards)

Like a Fire, 2008, Solomon Burke (piano)

Circus Money, 2008, Walter Becker (organ)

Christmas, 2008, Al Jarreau (organ)

Good Day, 2008, Priscilla Ahn (piano, organ)

Cannon Reloaded: An All-Star Celebration of Cannonball Adderley, 2008, Tom Scott (organ)

Behind the Velvet Curtain, 2008, Rebecca Pidgeon (Wurlitzer)

One Man Band, 2007, James Taylor (piano, organ, harmonium, synthesizer, keyboards)

Real Emotional, 2007, Curtis Stigers (producer, composer, arranger, piano, organ, keyboards)

Are You Lookin' At Me?, 2007, Colin Hay (piano, organ)

Sitting in Limbo, 2007, Jessica Molaskey (piano, organ, arranger)

Not Too Late, 2007, Norah Jones, (organ, Hammond organ)

Truth, 2007, Robben Ford, (Hammond organ, Wurlitzer)

Continuum, 2006, John Mayer (organ, keyboards)

James Taylor at Christmas, 2006, (arranger, piano, organ, melodica, harmonium)

Oceana, 2006, Till Brönner (composer, piano, Hammond B3 organ, electric piano, Wurlitzer)

Mineral, 2006, Jesse Harris (piano, organ, Wurlitzer, accordion, vibraphone, Kalimba)

Half the Perfect World, 2006, Madeleine Peyroux (celeste, Wurlitzer, soloist)

That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles, 2005, (arranger, Hammond organ, vibraphone, Wurlitzer)

Knowing You, 2005, John Pizzarelli (arranger, piano, organ)

Closer, 2005, David Sanborn (piano, organ)

Way It Really Is, 2004, Lisa Loeb (piano)

Chiara Civello, 2004, Chiara Civello (Hammond organ)

Careless Love, 2004, Madeleine Peyroux (piano, celeste, Hammond organ, pump organ, Wurlitzer)

Colour the Small One, 2004, Sia (piano, composer)

You Inspire Me, 2003, Curtis Stigers (producer, arranger, piano, organ)

October Road, 2002, James Taylor (piano)

Pentimento, 2002, Jessica Molaskey (piano, arranger)

Four Songs, 2002, Alexi Murdoch (piano, organ)

Play It Cool, 2001, Lea DeLaria (bass, piano, arranger)

Acoustic Soul, 2001, India.Arie (organ, Wurlitzer, string contractor)

AOI: Bionix. 2001, DeLaSoul (organ)

Arts and Crafts, 2001, Matt Wilson (piano)

Christmas in Swingtime, 2001, Harry Allen (organ)

Buttermilk Channel, 2001, Adam Levy (organ)

4 x 4, 2000, Carla Bley (organ)

The Still of the Night, 2000, Tom Wopat (arranger, piano)

Time is of the Essence, 1999, Michael Brecker (composer, piano, organ)

Minh, 1998, Chris Minh Doky (piano)

Earth Tones, 1998, Peter Bernstein (organ)

Warner Jazz Christmas Party, 1997, compilation featuring the Warner Jazz Artists (Joshua Redman, Al Jarreau, Kirk Whalum, Michael Franks,
Gabriela Anders, Larry Goldings, Boney James, Kevin Mahogany, Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau, Bob James)(Hammond organ)

Warner Jams 2: The Two Tenors with Larry Goldings, 1997, James Moody and Mark Turner (piano, arranger)

Kevin Mahogany, 1996, Kevin Mahogany (arranger, piano, organ)

Young At Heart, 1996, James Moody (piano)

Groove Elation, 1995, John Scofield (piano, organ)

Pure (Concord Records), 1994, Chris Potter (piano, organ)

Hue and Cry, 1993, Bobby Previte (organ)

Hand Jive, 1993, John Scofield (piano, organ)

Something Special, 1993, Jim Hall (piano)

Six Pack, 1992, Gary Burton & Friends (organ, keyboards)

Life on Planet Groove, 1992, Maceo Parker (organ)

Mo' Roots, 1991, Maceo Parker (organ)

Subsequently, 1991, Jim Hall (piano)

Freddie Freeloader, 1990, Jon Hendricks & Friends (piano)

On Course, 1990, Christopher Hollyday (piano)

Best of John Scofield, 1989, John Scofield (organ)

Selected film and TV credits

2016 The Founder (soundtrack featuring "In Spite of Everything" performed by Larry Goldings)

2015 Trainwreck (soundtrack featuring "The Morning After" performed by Larry Goldings)

2014 Neighbors (soundtrack featuring "Tanglefoot Bounce" performed by Larry Goldings)

2014 Good Morning America and Walmart Soundcheck (featuring "Battlefield" an original composition performed by Lea Michele)

2013 The Mark of Beauty (featuring "Strays" an original composition performed by Larry Goldings)

2013 Dealing With Idiots (film composer)

2009 The Dream's on Me (featured in film and on soundtrack)

2009 Funny People (featuring "Memory" performed by Larry Goldings and Maude Apatow, and "Tuscany" (originally titled "Dario and Bario"), an original composition performed by Larry Goldings)

2008 Bernard and Doris (HBO) (soundtrack featuring performance by Larry Goldings )

2008 The Office (NBC) (soundtrack featuring performance by Larry Goldings)

2008 Great Performances on PBS: James Taylor: One Man Band (featuring Larry Goldings as "One Man Band" and "School Song" an original composition performed by Larry Goldings)

2005 Proof (soundtrack featuring "Uganda," an original composition performed by Larry Goldings)

2000 Space Cowboys (soundtrack featuring several arrangements of jazz standards performed by Larry Goldings)