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  • Services

    I am a Santa Barbara-based singer, pianist, and guitarist available to perform in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties and possibly beyond for wedding ceremonies, cocktail hour and receptions, parties, anniversaries, bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate events, fund raisers, wine tastings, memorials or any special occasion.

    Music is my life work and passion. I have loved music all my life and have been performing since I was in my early teens, professionally for the last 20 or so years.      I sing and play (solo or with other musicians) in a variety of styles from jazz standards (Great American songbook; the repertoire of Tony Bennett, Sinatra, Diana Krall, etc.), as well as more contemporary styles (60's to the present) from smooth jazz, classical, rock, blues, funk, latin, Brazilian, New Age, Broadway, country, and traditional and contemporary folk songs including Irish and Spirituals.  As a performer I hold myself and the musicians I work with to the highest professional standards and always put my heart and soul into everything I do.

    Give yourself the gift of live music; the warmth, passion, energy and excitement of living music played by real musicians in real time. Let me and the musicians I work with provide the soundtrack to make your wedding , party or other event a treasured memory.

    I also teach piano, voice and guitar (click on 'Lessons' in upper left menu).

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    Recent client feedback:

    "Larry's mastery of the keyboard is unquestioned, with a subtle rhythmic touch that delights the listener. But his real strength is his smooth-as-silk voice, which naturally floats to cover a wide range of both pitch and emotion."


    "His music enlivened me and inspired me to dance and feel a mood of celebration. He is an obvious master in his field. I love how versatile and eclectic his music is! Thanx Larry!"
    “Larry was just a delight to have come to entertain my family and friends
    during my recent birthday celebration!  He is extremely talented, flexible,
    and VERY accommodating as he played (and sang) many of my favorite songs
    on a moment’s notice.  I highly recommend Larry Duff for your events!   


    More client feedback in 'Testimonials' (upper left menu)


    If you're looking for music for your WEDDING, click on 'Weddings'  in the  upper left menu.


    For Mp3 music samples click on 'Music Samples' (upper  menu on the left)
    or directly from the links on the left - 'Standards', Wedding Ceremony Music', Wedding Ballads, etc.


    My 'Song Lists' are accessed from the  menu on      the upper left.
      

    For a list of past and     upcoming private and public  performances scroll down
    As a SOLOIST:
    • with my keyboard I can sound like a band with vocals, keyboard bass and drum sounds 
    • just piano (yours, or my keyboard, with or without vocals) playing jazz standards and/or contemporary styles (contemporary jazz , pop, New Age, blues, etc.)
    • vocals, piano (or keyboard), guitar
    • vocals, guitar
     

    As a DUO, TRIO, OR LARGER ENSEMBLE
    I can play with:
    • Jon Crosse, long time music director and multi-instrumentalist (soprano, alto, or tenor saxs, trumpet, clarinet, flute) with Paul Anka's big band (seen on The Tonight Show and in Vegas playing tunes from their hit album 'Rock Swings')(depending on availability) - www.joncrosse.com, google for credits, reviews
    • sax player (tenor or alto)
    • harmonica - for a more blues and rock feel, or jazz/blues
    • electric guitar (jazz, rock, blues)
    • flute (jazz, New Age, classical)
    • trumpet (Jeff Elliott - jazz, latin, all styles)
    • violin (classical, jazz) www.tomtally.com
    • bass/flute (Ruben Martinez)
    • bass (stand-up acoustic or electric
    • drums
    • hand percussion - congas, latin percussion  (Benito - toured with War, Tower Of Power)
    • or combine myself on keyboard bass and/or keyboard drum sounds and other musicians
                                

    For dancing usually a live drummer is best, but people have had a great time dancing to the drum sounds from my keyboard (heard in these recordings) which sound great through my sound system.

    If you prefer a traditional jazz sound I can stay with a traditional older style sound ('Standards' - left menu), or mix it up with more contemporary beats and sounds ('Contemporary' - left menu).
                                      

    For live performance I use two new Bose sound systems (with their innovative advanced technology) that provide what is widely considered by far the clearest, cleanest live stereo sound available, and are unlike anything you've heard. They sound great in a small room, large hall, or outdoors. My sound system can also be used for your event announcements, etc.

    I play the latest Yamaha keyboard which I chose especially for it's great acoustic grand piano sounds, as well as other great sounds which you can hear on these recordings. All the sounds you hear in the music samples: piano and keyboard, solo instruments: flute, soprano sax, orchestral, electric guitar, acoustic and electric basses, drums and percussion were played from my keyboard (with a few exceptions: some drums in 'Standards', acoustic guitar and alto sax).

                                      

    I am also able to perform for an     outdoor ceremony (without electrical power; on the beach, etc.) either unamplified with acoustic guitar or with battery powered amplification for vocals and acoustic guitar, and/or keyboard


                                 
    If you want me to learn a special song, or songs not in my repertoire, I can usually do that, given enough advance notice.


     
    • Weddings, Parties, Anniversaries, Corporate Events, Fundraisers
    • Piano, vocal, guitar lessons
    • Accompanist for singers, instrumental soloists
    • House Concerts
    • Film Score
    • Commercial, Industrial, PSA Music
    • CDs (coming)




    Appearances (partial list):

    (upcoming public events highlighted in blue - check date)

    If you would like to be notified of upcoming public performances contact me on the 'contact' page and leave your email address


    2009

    Saturday, Dec. 19
    barmitvah

    Saturday, September  5
    wedding - ceremony (classical), cocktail hour (jazz)
    Lawrence Duff Trio     (piano, violin, flute)

    Sunday, June 28
    wedding

    Saturday, June 20
    wedding reception - Santa Monica
    Lawrence Duff Group jazz band

    Sunday, June 14
    Friendship Center - Montecito
    donor party

    Saturday, June 6
    wedding - Templeton, Ca

    Monday, May 25     
    Friendship Manor - Isla Vista
    concert - Lawrence Duff Jazz Trio

    Sunday, May 24
    wedding - Kingsburg, Ca

    Saturday, May 16
    Anniversary party - Los Angeles
     

    Saturday, May 2      3 - 5 P.M.
    Art On The Mesa

    Mesa shopping center (Albertson's) Cliff Dr. SB 93109
    A fine arts and crafts fair featuring a variety of local artists and crafts people with live music featuring myself and others. Glen Taylor will be sitting in on sax.
     

    Wednesday, April 22
    Friendship Center, Montecito, Ca. 
    party for donors


    Friday, April 17
    private party, Santa Barbara


    Saturday, April 4  
    Jensen Music MainStage Concert     
    7 P.M.     (or soon thereafter)
    2905 De La Vina St. (across from Taco Bell, down from Trader Joe's)     
    Jensen
    $6 cover

    myself and:
    - John Lyle  (www.JohnLyle.net)    , singer/guitarist/composer
    - Pat Milliken,     (www.myspace.com/patmilliken)
    finger style guitarist/composer
    -     Cormac O'Brien, singer/guitarist


    Tuesday, Feb. 24
    Concert - Friendship Manor - Isla Vista


    2008

    Wednesday, Dec. 31
    private     News Years Eve party

    Friday, Dec. 19
    private holiday party

    Tuesday, Dec. 9
    private holiday party


    Monday, October 27
    Corporate Event     - Alaska Gold Rush (solo piano)
    Four Seasons Biltmore, Santa Barbara
    private

    Saturday, October 11
    Private memorial service
    (guitar and vocals)


    Thursday, September 4
    Emilios Restaurant 

    5:00 - 7:00
    324 W. Cabrillo Blvd.
    SB 93101


    Friday, August 29,
    Saturday, August 30   - solo piano - Oaks Mall Grand Opening
    5 - 7 P.M.
    The Oaks Shopping Center
    350 W. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks,  91360


    Friday, August 8
    private birthday party

    Saturday,  August 2
    private party


    Sunday, July 20 - Oak Park (1 til dark)
    Concert/dance jam/potluck barbecue
    (see 'Music News' for follow up) 


    Monday, July 14
    private party


    Saturday, May 17 - Bay Cafe  
    6:30 - 9:30
    131 Anacapa St.
    Santa Barbara
    Sunday, May 11 Mothers Day - Montecito Country Club
    11:00 - 2:00 P.M.
    (private)


    Sunday, March 23
    Anniversary party


    Friday, Feb. 29, Benefit for Hospice Santa Barbara
    1st Annual Sadie Hawkins Social
    Carriage and Western Art Museum - Castillo St. (near Pershing Park)
    6 - 7p.m. VIP Reception - music by Lawrence Duff
    7 - 11 dance


    Tuesday, Jan. 29, Aldo's Restaurant -- 1031 State St. (between Carrillo and Figueroa)
    6 - 9 P.M.
    Benefit for Hospice Santa Barbara sister Hospice in Kenya
    -10% of proceeds go to benefit AIDS and malaria patients and 130 AIDS orphans


    Monday, Jan. 7,      Biltmore Hotel
    private birthday party (solo piano)

    2007

    Saturday, Dec. 15, (holiday party)

    Saturday, Nov. 24, (private party)

    Sunday, Oct. 14, Wedding

    Friday, Oct. 5, Ojai Film Festival - filmmakers party
    Saturday, Oct. 6 Ojai Film Festival - Gala VIP party (private)

    Sunday, Sept. 9 (private party)


    I am a member of the Screen Actors Guild.  My work as an actor; resume, pictures, and actors reel can be viewed at:

    www.nowcasting.com/lawrenceduff

    or click on this link in 'Links'

    For more on acting projects, upcoming TV, film, or theater performances , click on  'Music,  Acting News' (upper left menu), scroll down

    A few favorite quotes:

    "Creativity is a collaboration between God and man. The more God does the better"

    "New lands can only be discovered when one is willing to lose sight of the shore for a very long time"

    "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind" - Mahatma Gandhi

    "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."  - Abraham Lincoln - letter from Lincoln to (Col.) William F. Elkins, Nov. 21, 1864.