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| Larry Klein | |
|---|---|
| Name | Larry Klein |
| Birth date | 1956 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Associated acts | Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeleine Peyroux |
Larry Klein is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer known for his work in jazz, pop, and singer-songwriter genres. He gained prominence through long-term collaborations with leading artists and has produced albums that received critical acclaim and major awards. His career spans session work, production, and songwriting with a wide array of performers and ensembles across North America and Europe.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in a musical environment influenced by the vibrant scenes of New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston. He studied bass performance and composition, receiving formative training connected to institutions and teachers rooted in the jazz and rock traditions, and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue professional work as a session musician and arranger.
His early professional activity included touring and recording with rock and jazz ensembles associated with artists from the 1970s and 1980s session circuits. He became a sought-after electric and upright bassist for studio sessions organized by producers and labels such as Warner Bros. Records and Reprise Records, and worked alongside arrangers and composers linked to the film and television industries. Transitioning into production, he formed long-term partnerships with prominent singer-songwriters and jazz vocalists, helping shape albums released on major and independent labels.
As a producer and songwriter he contributed to projects that blended elements of jazz, pop, and singer-songwriter aesthetics, collaborating with arrangers, engineers, and orchestral contractors from professional networks including Abbey Road Studios–style sessions and Los Angeles studios. His songwriting credits include co-writes recorded by artists appearing on labels such as Geffen Records', Blue Note Records, and EmArcy Records. He is known for crafting intimate arrangements that utilize acoustic instrumentation, horn and string arrangements, and studio production techniques associated with award-winning contemporary recordings.
He is widely recognized for a notable multi-decade collaboration with a leading Canadian singer-songwriter whose career intersects with folk rock and jazz—a partnership that produced several acclaimed albums and tours. He also produced records for jazz pianists and ensembles associated with Blue Note Records and worked with vocalists connected to the Grammy Awards circuit. Other collaborators include internationally known performers from France, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, as well as session musicians who have performed with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and studio rhythm sections tied to the Muscle Shoals Sound lineage.
His production work has been honored by major institutions including multiple Grammy Award nominations and wins in categories spanning Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Contemporary Jazz Album, and Producer of the Year recognitions. Albums he produced have appeared on year-end critics' lists in publications aligned with the BBC, Rolling Stone, and national arts endowments. He has received industry accolades from organizations like the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and fellowships or honors from regional music foundations.
He has lived and worked in major cultural centers including Los Angeles, New York City, and parts of Europe for recording and touring. His personal network includes long-term professional relationships with artists, managers, and label executives from companies such as Universal Music Group and independent boutique labels. He has participated in charitable performances and benefit concerts linked to arts organizations and music education initiatives.
Selected production and performance credits span a range of albums and singles released between the 1980s and the 2020s on labels including Warner Bros. Records, Geffen Records, Blue Note Records, Verve Records, and independent imprints. Credits include multi-platinum commercial releases, critically lauded jazz vocal records, and soundtrack contributions connected to feature films and television series.
Category:American record producers Category:1956 births Category:Living people