ACT Night: Bill Laurance & Michael League

In the organizer's words:

Some duos are put together specially. Others come about by themselves. Like that of pianist Bill Laurance and bassist Michael League. The two have known each other since their student days, when they came together as musical kindred spirits.

Anything that was fun was allowed: classical, soul, folk, jazz. It was the founding phase of a collective that was to become known as Snarky Puppy and travel the world. Their joint duo is an alternative to the large format. It's all about the inside view, with Laurance on piano and League on fretless bass guitar and oud. They do without a band, which gives them musical freedom. The sound of the oud opens up further free spaces, sonic canvases that allow filigree, detailed images.

In Berlin, the two will present their new album, which was created in April 2026 during a week of recording at Chateau Palmer, one of Bordeaux's most famous wine estates. The focus is on the pure and organic, without much technology, without overdubbing, with elements of soul and jazz. League explores the oud from his own perspective, while Laurance reduces the piano to melodies and compact improvisations. A creative dialog between two musical companions.