Researched musician profile
About Larry Koonse
Koonse’s official biography traces his guitar studies to Jimmy Wyble, a 1984 jazz-studies degree from the University of Southern California, and six years touring with the John Dankworth quartet. It also documents his California Institute of the Arts faculty role, which began in 1990.[1]
The biography identifies Koonse as a co-leader of the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet and a co-founder of Jazz Compass. His official discography separates leader and co-leader projects from a large sideman catalog, including the quartet albums Astarte, Family Song, Look to the East, and Conversation Piece.[1][2]
Conversations, his duo recording with pianist David Roitstein, presents ten originals and standards. Koonse’s site also hosts a performance of Billy Childs’s The Red Wheelbarrow, providing a direct bridge from the biography to his playing.[3][4]
Los Angeles Jazz Quartet
Koonse’s biography and discography document four co-led quartet albums spanning Astarte through Conversation Piece.[1][2]
Jazz Compass
His official biography identifies him as a co-founder of the label, which released several of his leader projects.[1][2]
Conversations
The 2015 duo album joins Koonse and pianist David Roitstein for ten jazz compositions.[3]