Meet Lawrence Peryer

I currently live in:

Normandy Park, WA

I joined All About Jazz in:

2011

Why did you decide to contribute to All About Jazz?

I've been a lifelong music fan, and through my work in the music industry I developed a deep appreciation for the art of music criticism and journalism. I always enjoyed writing as well and All About Jazz is an outlet that makes it easy to take a chance and put work in the world. So I took that chance and here I am many years later.

How do you contribute to All About Jazz?

I primarily contribute artist interviews and occasionally album reviews and essays, drawing from the same approach I use in my podcast, Spotlight On. I focus on the craft, the story behind the music, and connecting artists with audiences in meaningful ways. I try to bring my industry perspective and emotional self while maintaining the independence and distance journalism requires.

What is your musical background?

I'm a lifelong music obsessive who turned my passion into a career in digital innovation, artist relations, executive leadership and even music production. I've worked with cultural icons producing Grammy-nominated box sets and creating award-winning campaigns. Through my work at Warner Music Group, Amazon, and various startups, I've witnessed the industry's evolution firsthand while always remaining a listener and fan.

Aside from jazz, what styles of music do you enjoy?

My tastes run wide and deep: classic rock, blues, jazz, modern classical, creative and experimental music, music from many global communities and more. I am drawn to artists who push boundaries, from progressive rock to experimental electronic music. I have attended over 500 concerts across 40+ years, and I find myself gravitating toward anything that shows craftsmanship and vision, whether that's a perfectly constructed pop song or the most adventurous free improvisation.

What are you listening to right now?

I find myself listening to so much music in preparation for my interviews on Spotlight On. That work keeps my listening habits wonderfully unpredictable.

What do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies?

I'm an avid reader, first and foremost. I serve on the Arts Commission in my town, where I work with fellow jazz writer Paul DeBarros to program a Summer concert series, amongst other events. I like to cook. I also create experimental ambient music as part of Burning Dervish. When I'm not buried in books or cooking, I'm usually discovering new music or planning my next road trip or concert.

What role does jazz music play in your life?

Jazz has taught me ways to think, and ways to relate to other people and the world. It represents the perfect intersection of tradition and innovation and has deeply influenced even my professional work. Whether I'm producing an archival release for an artist or interviewing an experimental musician for my podcast, I'm always looking for that balance between honoring what came before and pushing toward something new. Jazz teaches you to listen differently as well, to hear the conversation between musicians, to appreciate both structure and spontaneity. Jazz contains multitudes.

How does writing about jazz contribute to the music itself?

Good jazz writing creates context and builds bridges between artists and audiences. In an era where attention spans are shrinking and music consumption is increasingly casual, thoughtful criticism helps readers understand not just what they're hearing, but why it matters. I approach each interview as an opportunity to expand someone's musical world, just as great jazz musicians expand our understanding of what music can be.

What do you like most about All About Jazz?

All About Jazz understands that jazz deserves the same level of critical attention as any art form, and the site provides space for writers to really explore the music rather than just provide consumer guidance. I appreciate the reach into "adjacent genres" and believe the site has contributed greatly to expanding how people think about what jazz is and can be in the 21st Century.

What positives have come from your association with All About Jazz?

I know Michael Ricci! And it's given me another platform to contribute to the ongoing conversation about why jazz, art and artists matter.

Vinyl, CD or Streaming?

I say vinyl but I listen to a ton of digital just because that is how my life works. The format matters less to me than the quality of the listening experience and the music. I am not interested in purity discussions or tests.

If I could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be and why?

John Coltrane, though I fear he would be so quiet and soft-spoken that I might not be able to draw him out. But to have the opportunity to talk to him about music and mysticism would be a treat.

If I could go back in time and relive an experience, what would it be?

What is in the windshield is much more interesting than what is in the rearview.

What's the best advice you've received about listening to music?

From my conversations with artists over the years, it synthesizes as a paraphrasing of Pauline Oliveros: "Don't just listen with your ears, listen with your whole being." Great music—especially jazz—engages every part of you. The moment you stop treating it as background and start treating it as conversation, everything changes.

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