Pianist Larry Dunlap and vocalist Bobbe Norris have been performing together since the late 1970s, married since about the same time.  Born in San Francisco, she was singing at shopping center openings and like by the age of twelve. She was sitting in at Bop City in the 1950s while still a teen and, “discovered” by John Hammond of Columbia Records, began to build a strong reputation and career in New York in the ’60s before leaving the business and heading back west.  Her partnership with Larry brought her back to the mic, and together they’ve been a strong draw in clubs, cabarets and concert halls for decades.

Larry entered the jazz business in Portland, playing with Leroy Vinnegar and Ralph Towner, before coming down to the Bay Area.  Beginning in about 1980, he toured for nearly three decades with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth.  Along the way, he’s performed with Ernestine Anderson, Larry Coryell, Art Farmer, James Moody, Gerry Mulligan, Rebecca Parris, Mark Murphy and Ernie Watts.  He is equally well-regarded as a composer and arranger and for his work with Cape Verde-born composer Amandio Cabral, which resulted in several fine albums and countless beautiful performances.

The trio of Larry Dunlap, Seward McCain and Jim Zimmerman made up the rhythm section for innumerable dates on tour in the United States with singer Cleo Laine and her husband, the saxophonist, composer and arranger Sir John Dankworth.  As noted, Larry began working with them as early as 1980.  Jim joined up in 1982, and Seward came on board about a decade later.  All three continued to work with Laine and Dankworth up through the couple’s last U.S. appearances in October 2009.

The musical association of Seward and Jim dates back to Vince Guaraldi dates in the 1970s and includes several years on tour with Diane Schur as well.