Big :tup to Mr. Lawrence... I've heard him play with both the Truth In Jazz Orchestra, as well as the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra. His big band performances were always exciting and noteworthy... and I always regret that I didn't catch him in performance with a smaller group. Every time I've heard him play, I was always interested in hearing more.
From the not-to-common-knowledge-department: A few years back, Chris was instrumental in organizing a local open mike/jam session here, in this (relatively) small town area of roughly <150,000 people (in the whole county). There's a very small, but loyal, following of "jazz" fans around here, and it takes a certain amount of... well, you know, to even attempt to get something like that together.
Wishing him continued good luck at both Blue Lake, and in Oregon!