Larry Bartley is a bassist and composer who has been a staple of the London and international jazz scene as a side man and as a leader.

 

His new album BEAUTY IN THE HIDEOUS featuring Tony Kofi, Ed Jones and Rod Youngs, was released in 2014.

 

His 2003 debut album, ALONG THIS WAY was nominated for BEST NEW WORK in the BBC JAZZ AWARDS. Larry has played and recorded with various bands, including Stanley Turrentine, Abdullah Ibrahim, Bennie Maupin, Steve Grossman, Jean Toussaint, Cleveland Watkiss, Courtney Pine, Denys Baptiste, Ingrid Laubrock, Johnathan Gee, Steve Williamson, Donald Brown (of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messangers), David Murray, Orrin Evans and Gary Bartz, among many others.

 

Since 2004 he has been a member of Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA

Orchestra, and is also a member of Byron Wallen's groundbreaking band INDIGO.

 

Larry has also performed in various theatre shows and films including the soundtrack for the 1999 Mike Leigh film CAREER GIRLS, the theatre production THE GRAPEVINE, A CELEBRATION OF SOUL MUSIC (starring Danny John Jules, of 'Red Dwarf') at the Derby Playhouse, UNFORGETTABLE, THE NAT KING COLE STORY (starring Clarke Peters, of ‘The Wire’), Frauke Requardt's dance production JAMMY DODGERS at The Place in London, Sheron Wray's JAZZ XCHANGE at London's Royal Opera House. Most recently, he has appeared in the Simon Curtis film MY WEEKEND WITH MARILYN, starring Michelle Williams and Kenneth Branagh,  and the soundtrack of the Biyi Bandele movie HALF OF A YELLOW SUN starring Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

 

MOBO award nominee 2013 as member of the band LINEAGE.

 

"Excellent bassist – with a distinctive Mingus-like drive to his propulsive bass lines." Time Out

 

“Larry taps into a vast pool of different types of music to create a unique project that deserves to be applauded.” Jean Toussaint

 

 

“You can understand why Bartley is so much in demand on the London jazz scene.” BBC