LAURENCE MCNAUGHTON 

Pianist, composer, arranger and teacher.

t:      +44 7534 563 773
e:     lrkm.piano@gmail.com

KAZE - aka Japanese speaking opera graduate Amy Webber - is one of Manchester's exciting new prog-pop artists. Webber trained as an opera singer for 6 years before rebelling to follow her pop calling. She brings theatrical performance and soaring vocals to KAZE's definitive and genre bending music. KAZE have been hailed as “fresh-sounding, future-facing” by BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson and praised by BBC Radio Scotland’s Vic Galloway for their “syncopated prog-pop”. 
Despite being a brand new act, KAZE have already secured airplay on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Scotland (Single of the Week), BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Oxford and Amazing Radio. The self-directed one-take music video for 'Pinned On You', their debut single, made ‘Video of the Month’ on OurStage and consequently KAZE were selected as ‘Artist of the week’ for Richer Unsigned. KAZE are currently preparing their debut album, set for release in 2020.

“A vibrant, edgy, unusual kind of sound”” - Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music)

"KAZE are powerful live performers who draw heavily on a theatrical sensitivity. Backed up with a steady release of well recorded, intelligent, high energy songs, they create a unique live experience."- Gavin Sharp (CEO Band On The Wall)

"That's really quite something isn't it? Operatic, off-kilter, syncopated prog-pop" - Vic Galloway BBC Radio Scotland

"That is pretty darn tasty" - Jim Gellatly (XFM, Amazing Radio)

"Superb alternative-pop song... full of surprises" - Rob Lewis (CEO Richer Unsigned) 

"Fingerprints of Steely Dan & Fleetwood Mac" - Colin Towns (Ian Gillan Band)

George Winston grew up mainly in Montana, and also spent his later formative years in Mississippi and Florida. During this time, his favorite music was instrumental rock and instrumental R&B, including Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG’s, Jimmy Smith, and many more. Inspired by R&B, jazz, Blues and rock (especially the Doors), George began playing organ in 1967. In 1971 he switched to the acoustic piano after hearing recordings from the 1920s and the 1930s by the legendary stride pianists Thomas “Fats” Waller and the late Teddy Wilson. In addition to working on stride piano, he also at this time came up with his own style of melodic instrumental music on solo piano, called folk piano. 

Since 1972 George has released thirteen solo piano albums: AUTUMN (1980), WINTER INTO SPRING (1982), DECEMBER (1982), SUMMER (1991), FOREST (1994), LINUS & LUCY-THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI (1996), PLAINS (1999), which was inspired by his Eastern Montana upbringing, NIGHT DIVIDES THE DAY - THE MUSIC OF THE DOORS (2002), MONTANA-A LOVE STORY (2004) and GULF COAST BLUES & IMPRESSIONS-A HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT (2006). His most recent recording are LOVE WILL COME - THE MUSIC OF VINCE GUARALDI VOL 2 (2010), and GULF COAST BLUES & IMPRESSIONS 2-A LOUISIANA WETLANDS BENEFIT (2012).
In 2001 George released REMEMBRANCE - A MEMORIAL BENEFIT, a seven song EP of piano, guitar and harmonica solos, to benefit those affected by 9/11.  He has also worked with the late George Levenson of Informed Democracy (www.informeddemocracy.com) on three projects: a solo guitar soundtrack for SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES, and soundtracks of piano, guitar and, harmonica solos for PUMPKIN CIRCLE, and BREAD COMES TO LIFE. In addition, he has recorded the solo piano soundtrack for the children’s story THE VELVETEEN RABBIT for Rabbit Ears Productions. 	

George is presently concentrating mainly on live performances, and most of the time he is touring playing solo piano concerts (the Summer Show or the Winter Show), solo guitar concerts, solo harmonica concerts, and solo piano dances (with R&B and slow dance songs). 

He is currently most inspired by the great New Orleans R&B pianists Henry Butler, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, and Jon Cleary, and he is also working on interpreting pieces on solo piano by his favorite composers, including Vince Guaraldi, Professor Longhair, and the Doors, as well as Sam Cooke, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Randy Newman, Curtis Mayfield, Laura Nyro, Al Kooper, Jimmy Wisner, Arthur Lee, Frank Zappa, Ralph Towner, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, Milt Jackson, John Hartford, Oliver Schroer, Taj Mahal, Henry Butler, James Booker, Jon Cleary, Philip Aaberg and others, to play at concerts, and at his solo piano dances.

George is also working on solo guitar and is recording the masters of the Hawaiian Slack Key guitar for an extensive series of albums for Dancing Cat Records (www.dancingcat.com). Slack Key is the name for the beautiful solo fingerstyle guitar tradition, unique to Hawaii, which began in the early 1800s and predated the steel guitar by over half a century. 

He is also recording his main inspirations for his harmonica playing: Sam Hinton, Rick Epping, and Curt Bouterse.

Piano: George Winston plays Steinway Pianos
Guitar: Martin D -35 (1966), with low 7th string added
Harmonica: Hohner Big Rivers & Cross Harps, key of low D


After a little antipodean hiatus Son Of John (Jacob Johnson) is back performing with renowned double bassist John Parker. Last year the duo released their debut E.P “Live at Fieldgate Studio”.
The duo takes Jacob’s own material as well as traditional songs from both sides of the Atlantic, to create Intimate yet vibrant gigs. With the mix of Jacob’s “husky drawl...and.. effortless picking” (Fatea)  mixed with John’s ability “teasing the most amazing sounds, bowing, plucking, sawing and downright thrashing to remarkable effect”  out of his instrument, the duo wander from old timey foot stompers to slower more ambient songwriter ballads. 

His debut album (2016’s Autumn’s Hymn). A blend of eight original tracks and two English ballads, the sound is a combination of all his influences and a fellowship of some great musicians.

“..a series of intricately and sometimes delicately orchestrated, vignettes and ballads that switch in a heartbeat from reference points as diverse as Appalachian Bluegrass to the arid string patterns of the Maghreb.” – Slap Magazine

He has had the privilege of playing some great venues throughout the midlands including: The Robin 2, The Marrs Bar, The Kitchen Garden, Katie Fitzgerald & The Globe at Hay to name a few.

“....enthused by a deep vocal style amidst a swathe of emotive strings.” - www.threechordsandthetruthuk.co.uk

“The pairing worked well, with Jacob’s husky vocals, and acoustic guitar, being poked and cajoled by the warm bass line stirred by JP.” rhythmbooze.tumblr.com

2018’s “Live at Fieldgate Studio” was recorded in conjunction with live videos they worked on at the end of 2017. The E.P pays homage to the debut album (2016’s Autumn’s Hymn) with a mix of original tracks and traditional songs. 

“As with his debut album, the playing is faultless, the original songs outstanding and, if anything, the intervening 2 years have rendered Jacob's voice even more distinctive.” – Paul Jackson(Fatea)

Stuart Orme is following