Lawrence Fields about his debut recording as a leader:
My goal with 'To the Surface' is to create 'honest music' -- playing that communicates directly with the listeners, with emotion coming across in every note.. And to prioritize passion over perfection. It's this sort of music that has had the biggest influence on me throughout my life, and I want to share a distinct, personal sound that faithfully reflects who I am.
The album's sonic palette combines elements of several different styles of this music that I love. In putting together the record, I debated about how to include them all, and I decided to blend them in a way that connects each one as part of the whole. My heart lies not in sounding relentlessly traditional, or strictly modern, but in embracing the juxtaposition between both, and all that fertile ground in the middle.
In some ways, this recording also reflects a reaction to the trend of increasingly complex music. I wanted to leave something raw 'on the page', and to embrace the joy of exploration and uncertainty. I can appreciate the challenges that come with music made mostly for intellectual stimulation, but I'm happiest when writing without ornamentation, straight from my feelings to the score.

The album's title 'To the Surface' represents the literal bringing to the surface of ideas, sounds, and compositions that have been building up for years. It also represents a particularly meaningful phase of my life, where I accumulate things that I've shared through the music of others to date, and transition into bringing my own vision more to the forefront. I've been waiting to express so many things, and this album is just the beginning of that process. It's something that excites me greatly.

A At this moment in my life, the timing feels right, and I'm thrilled to be bringing all of this 'To the Surface' to share with all of you.

Track Listing

• Parachute
• New Season Blues
• Moving On
• L.B.F.
• To The Surface
• Yasorey
• Vision
• I Fall In Love Too Easily
• Sketches
• The Lookout

Additional Details

Label: RHYTHMNFLOW Records

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 59:52 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 02/02/24

UPC: 4170000114789