Tenor saxophonist Doug Lawrence spent over 20 years as one of the most "in-demand" jazz musicians in New York City. Among the artists he has performed and recorded with include - Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Cobb's Mob, Sarah Vaughan, Buck Clayton, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Eldridge, Wild Bill Davis, Benny Carter, Bobby Short, Patti Austin, Grover Mitchell, The Smithsonian Masterworks Orchestra, Dennis Mackrel's Manhatten Jazz Orchestra, George Bensen and many others.

Doug has performed on six continents at virtually every major concert hall, jazz club and jazz festival in the world, including - Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall, The Blue Notes in Japan, Italy and New York, The Village Vangaurd, Blues Alley, Birdland, The North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Newport, Chicago, Montreal, New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles and Nice Jazz Festivals and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to mention just a few. Doug has also performed for 4 American Presidents, including both of President Clinton's Inaugurals.

As a featured soloist with the 18-time Grammy-winning World Famous Count Basie Orchestra, Doug continues to tour extensively (see tour dates page). The Basie Band has no parallel in jazz. They have won more awards, polls and Grammys than any other jazz band in history. The chair Doug fills (lead tenor) has been inhabited by a virtual "who's who" of jazz tenor saxophonists. They include - Lester Young, Hershel Evans, Don Byas, Eli "Lucky" Thompson, Bud Johnson, Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, Wardell Gray, Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell, Sal Nistico, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Jimmy Forrest and Kenny Hing.

Doug has appeared on over 100 recordings (see discography page) including four critically acclaimed recordings of his own - "Soul Carnival" (#3 USA 2/98, Top 10 for 14 weeks, Gavin Jazz Radio Report), "High Heel Sneakers" (#11 USA 2/99, Top 20 for 10 weeks, Gavin Jazz Radio Report), the extraordinarily popular "Big Band Swing" and Doug's latest CD, "Street Wise" on the Alltribe label. 2006 releases Doug can be heard on include - "Blue Print Of A Lady-Nneenna Freelon" on Concord Records, "Basie's Back" on Sony-Japan Records and the Concord/Starbucks label release, "Ray Sings, Basie Swings". New recordings for 2007/2008 will include Doug performing on numerous CD's with a variety of artists including Frank Wess, Nneena Freelon, The Count Basie Orchestra, Hillary Smith, Clyde Stubblefield and Tony Bennett.

In 1999 Doug was asked to lead an all-star big band in Chicago at the famous "Black Orchid" night club. What started out as a six-week engagement, turned into three years as the Black Orchid house band. The Doug Lawrence Orchestra was such a hit with critics and audiences alike that Doug moved to Chicago full time (the first time in over 20 years Doug made his permanent home outside New York City). The Doug Lawrence Orchestra continues to perform for 'special events' in Chicago, and throughout the USA.

As a masterclass clinician, Doug is able to bring his considerable experience as a musician and his numerous credits as a musical director to the classroom for an extremely enlightened masterclass. His expertise in ensemble playing and improvisation, and his uncanny ability to relate with students, make him an educator that inspires incredible results. Specializing in big band and small groups, Doug is increasingly in demand from high schools and colleges around the world to teach and perform with their programs.

In 2003 Doug and his wife Cara moved back to Doug's childhood home of Albuquerque, New Mexico. It had been 27 years since Doug left his family home in Albuquerque to pursue his career in jazz. Now, living in the "Land Of Enchantment", Doug enjoys his time off from his busy touring schedule, relaxing and spending time with his family and friends. When time permits, Doug makes rare New Mexico appearances (always heavily attended) with local and international talent.