Laurie Z
Encyclopedia
Laurie Zeluck Carter was an American
pianist
and electronic music
ian who recorded under the name Laurie Z. Her music is described as a blend of classical
, jazz
and contemporary instrumental.
For Yamaha Disklavier:
Printed Songbook (also in PDF format):
, Leo Kottke
and Tim Weisburg and she performed at major clubs Troubadour
and Roxy
. Laurie Z. also played national tours for Alesis and Yamaha and represented Roland and Kawai products. She regularly performed and demonstrated products at NAMM, CES, COMDEX and Atari conventions and in 2007 was honored in NAMM's annual tribute.
Laurie Z. concerts were frequently mentioned as a ‘Top Pick’ in the Los Angeles Times. She could be heard performing regularly at Nordstrom's, South Bay Galleria, playing solo piano at the Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach and performing around the South Bay as bandleader for the "Z Three Trio" and "Laurie Z. Band." From 1989 to 1994 Laurie played Disneyland's Tommorrowland Terrace in the rock group "Voyager", and was the featured keyboardist at the Anaheim Pond for the Mighty Ducks professional hockey team's inauguaral season. Beginning in 1991, Laurie Z. became the featured pianist for Peterbilt Motors at the International Trucking Show, performing for Peterbilt for over a decade. Her television music appearances included Fame, the Disney Cable Network and DirecTV's "InTune."
During the 80's, before going solo, Laurie recorded for Malcolm Cecil
– inventor of the unique TONTO synthesizer – who had a company, EMPH Inc., "Electronic Music Publishing House." EMPH, Inc. released the very first MIDI recording and playback software (MIDIPLAY) for the now obsolete Atari 1040 computer. Laurie recorded MIDI versions of songs for that program which were sold as "Musidiscs." Only three Musidiscs were ever released - Beatles songs, Christmas music and some Grammy winning songs from 1986, and Laurie Z. recorded on all of them.
Launching her own Independent record label, Zebra Productions, Laurie Z. produced her first album Window To The World. Her second release Life Between The Lines was named "New Age Album of the Year" by Scott Brodie of CHRW-FM
, Canada
. Roots, The Solo Piano Album was recorded live on the Yamaha Disclavier Acoustic Piano and was considered for eight Grammy nominations. Heart of the Holidays included special guest, actor Jack Palance
, narrating 'The Night Before Christmas.' The Heart’s Journey, a relaxation program presented by hypnotherapist Ron Stubbs
, with music composed and performed by Laurie Z., was considered for seven Grammy nominations.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
ian who recorded under the name Laurie Z. Her music is described as a blend of classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and contemporary instrumental.
Discography
Laurie Z. CD titles include:- Window to the World
- Life Between The Lines
- Roots, The Solo Piano Album
- Heart of the Holidays
- The Heart’s Journey
- Heart of the Holidays - Bonus Music CD included with Sheryl Roush's book Heart of the Holidays
For Yamaha Disklavier:
- Roots, The Solo Piano Album
Printed Songbook (also in PDF format):
- Roots, The Solo Piano Songbook
List of solo piano pieces
- Stranger in a Familiar Land
- Roots
- Michael’s Song
- The Still of the Night
- In the Monterey Mist
- Invisibility
- For the Love of a Child
- Too Blue
- The Mysterious Painter
- The River
- From the Ashes
- Kelly's Garden
- Dream Come True
- Good Night, My Friend
- My Perfect Love
- Sunrise
- Heart of the Holidays
- Warmth From Within
- Common Ground
- Who Knew
- Cheyenne
- Portrait
- ParaSailing (Unreleased)
- Lost & Found (Unreleased)
- Surfer Steve
- With A Twinkle In Her Eye
- Lullaby for Matthew
Career and recognition
Laurie Z. toured extensively and opened for instrumentalists like Herbie HancockHerbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
and Tim Weisburg and she performed at major clubs Troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
and Roxy
Roxy
-Brands:* Roxy , women's brand of clothing, accessories, and snowboards by Quiksilver company for surfing* The Roxy Theatre, music venue in Los Angeles & online source for music, arts, culture, and more.-Names:...
. Laurie Z. also played national tours for Alesis and Yamaha and represented Roland and Kawai products. She regularly performed and demonstrated products at NAMM, CES, COMDEX and Atari conventions and in 2007 was honored in NAMM's annual tribute.
Laurie Z. concerts were frequently mentioned as a ‘Top Pick’ in the Los Angeles Times. She could be heard performing regularly at Nordstrom's, South Bay Galleria, playing solo piano at the Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach and performing around the South Bay as bandleader for the "Z Three Trio" and "Laurie Z. Band." From 1989 to 1994 Laurie played Disneyland's Tommorrowland Terrace in the rock group "Voyager", and was the featured keyboardist at the Anaheim Pond for the Mighty Ducks professional hockey team's inauguaral season. Beginning in 1991, Laurie Z. became the featured pianist for Peterbilt Motors at the International Trucking Show, performing for Peterbilt for over a decade. Her television music appearances included Fame, the Disney Cable Network and DirecTV's "InTune."
During the 80's, before going solo, Laurie recorded for Malcolm Cecil
Malcolm Cecil
Malcolm Cecil is a British jazz bassist and Grammy Award-winning record producer.A founding member of the UK's leading jazz quintet of the late 1950s, The Jazz Couriers, he went on to join a number of British jazz combos led by Dick Morrissey, Tony Crombie and Ronnie Scott in the late 50s and...
– inventor of the unique TONTO synthesizer – who had a company, EMPH Inc., "Electronic Music Publishing House." EMPH, Inc. released the very first MIDI recording and playback software (MIDIPLAY) for the now obsolete Atari 1040 computer. Laurie recorded MIDI versions of songs for that program which were sold as "Musidiscs." Only three Musidiscs were ever released - Beatles songs, Christmas music and some Grammy winning songs from 1986, and Laurie Z. recorded on all of them.
Launching her own Independent record label, Zebra Productions, Laurie Z. produced her first album Window To The World. Her second release Life Between The Lines was named "New Age Album of the Year" by Scott Brodie of CHRW-FM
CHRW-FM
CHRW-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 94.9 FM in London, Ontario. It is licensed as a community-based campus radio station by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Roots, The Solo Piano Album was recorded live on the Yamaha Disclavier Acoustic Piano and was considered for eight Grammy nominations. Heart of the Holidays included special guest, actor Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
, narrating 'The Night Before Christmas.' The Heart’s Journey, a relaxation program presented by hypnotherapist Ron Stubbs
Ron Stubbs
Ron Stubbs is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the VFL.Stubbs spent a lot of time in the Hawthorn reserves and managed only 17 senior games during his four seasons. Six of them came early in the 1971 season, a premiership year for Hawthorn.He finished his career in...
, with music composed and performed by Laurie Z., was considered for seven Grammy nominations.