What's New:
of performances of McDonough’s
original pieces and arrangements
of jazz for high school jazz ensemble,
orchestra, and concert band.
of the Larry McDonough Quartet.
“Larry McDonough’s long-awaited
new recording serves up divergent
delights, from a reconstructed holiday
chestnut to inside-out renditions of
jazz standards, from harmonically and
rhythmically altered traditional melodies
to a trio of original tunes. With a feathery
touch that recalls Bill Evans but with
more fingers and a unique approach to
time that makes the most worn carol or
standard a new adventure, Simple Gifts
proves to be anything but “simple”—but,
for those fortunate enough to hear
this music, it is indeed a gift.”
--Andrea Canter, Jazz Police
“The Star Spangled Banner” from the
solo piano CD, “Tuscarora: Short
Stories for Jazz Piano,” is featured
in “The Magic Green School Bus,”
a new half-hour documentary portrait
of Paul Wellstone created by kids
at Lake Country Montessori School
in Minneapolis. For more information,
Action and is dedicated to the
"Larry McDonough is an original
much in the tradition of Dave
Brubeck, and McDonough's piano
stylings are intimate and
innovative." Lee Prosser,
Jazz Review,
www.jazzreview.com.
"He also exhibits echoes of
McCoy Tyner ala My Favorite Things
when Tyner was working with
JohnColtrane."
T. Alexander, Pulse
Of The Twin Cities.
"Wonderful, Herbie Hancock-
Bill Evan-ish." Leigh Kamman,
The Jazz Image, Minnesota Public
Radio 91.1 FM, St. Paul.
"Bill Evans meets Debussy.... Larry is the only pianist we know who
takes bass solos on piano, often trading choruses back and forth
between his right and left hands." www.CDbaby.com.
"Think piano music is boring? Then you haven't heard Larry McDonough's rendition of Layla,' or Linus and Lucy' from the Charlie Brown Christmas special." Christina Eberhard, Winona Daily News.
was a regular on the Twin Cities jazz scene in the late 1970s and early
1980s. He then cut back on public performances to raise three young
daughters. McDonough reentered the jazz scene in the late 1990s,
first with the jazz fusion group Bozo Allegro, and then on his
own with his critically acclaimed solo piano CD, "Small Steps."
Marcia Wellstone Markuson, Mary McEvoy, Tom Lapic, and William McLaughlin, it benefits Wellstone Action, a tax-exempt organization formed to carry on their work. It includes original music, as well as arrangements of jazz, popular, religious, and historical music in different times signatures and harmonies, such as "Amazing Grace" and "My Favorite Things" in 5/4, and "We Shall Overcome" (with vocals) and "Star Spangled Banner" as jazz ballads.
In addition to his solo performances, he also appears with his group, which performs jazz in odd meters. Selections include "My Favorite Things" following the Coltrane version but in 5/4 time, Dame la Mano" (aka "Red River Valley"), "Nature Boy" and "Cantaloupe Island" in 7/4 time, A Rose for Two", an original written along with kids with disabilities in a Bill Evan's style, and God Bless America", "Take the A Train" and "Aja" in 5/4 time.
Reviewers have compared him to Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Ian Underwood, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, John Fahey, Herbie Hancock, Patricia Barber, and Claude Debussy.
McDonough also composes and arranges music for school music programs, ranging from chamber groups to concert bands and jazz ensembles, focusing on exposing young musicians to jazz harmonies and rhythms, and uncommon time signatures.
