• As a jazz musician Roan has performed with dozens of famous artists from across the globe in all genres of jazz. Naming only a few, the extensive list includes working with Scott Hamilton and Darius Brubeck from the USA and Digby Fairweather in the UK. 
• “Whether on drums or vibraphone, my friend Roan Kearsey-Lawson is one those new-generation musicians who restores your faith in the finest qualities of jazz music from Swing to bebop and beyond” (Digby Fairweather 2017).   
• Roan's performances are packed with 100% energy and entertainment.  A consummate presenter and showman.  Visually stunning on fast numbers and powerful emotions on slow numbers leading to mesmerising intrigue throughout the performance.

   An experienced guest and bandleader Roan has performed in numerous clubs and festivals in the UK and abroad including the Royal Albert Hall ignite concert series and many more. In Norway and the UK Roan has performed as a featured visiting guest artist on two recent tours.

   Currently Roan is the bandleader at the 144Club and he also leads his own ‘New York Connections Quartet’ with John Pearce on Piano, Paul Morgan on Bass and Rod Brown on Drums, which is complimented by a 2019 album release ‘New York Connections’. 

    “A Truly World Class Vibes Player” (Chris Hare, 2017).

• Roan Kearsey-Lawson started composing in 2013.  Since then he has over 70 works with commissions in the pop and film industries and four of his own albums packed full of original music written across Jazz, Classical and Easy Listening genres including eight of his own albums. 
• He has been commissioned for Trouserphonic Records, a Film Score for LSBU, Sense Charity, and Mind Charity, he has writen background music used in comedy on BBC Radio, and written bespoke lines on other artists albums afar afield as Sweden.  Other work includes playalong tracks for a drum tutor book.
•  "I wanted to use a string quartet and having got to know and work with maestro Roan Kearsey-Lawson...I asked him to write a score...I wasn't disappointed. Tastefully scored and beautifully played" (Glenn Prangnell, Trouserphonic Records).

    "As a composer Kearsey-Lawson has a great melodic gift, plus an affinity with the rhythms and sound patterns of many countries" (Ron Simpson, Jazz Rag Magazine, 2014) 

   "He has a penchant for writing good, lyrical music and arranging it to a variety of styles” (Ian Maund, Sandy Brown Jazz, 2014)

As a classical musician Roan has worked with many top singers and performers in Orchestras and Chamber groups performing on Timpani and Orchestral Percussion in many Cathedrals, Theatres and Churches. He performed regularly at the world famous Finchcocks Musical Museum and for Broadwood Pianos. He leads his own contemporary classical group ‘The Roan Trio’ with Duncan Lamont Jr. and Dominic Ashworth, which is complimented by his album ‘Classical Conversations’,"a fascinating, inventive and totally accessible album...it would fit with Classic FM’s Smooth Classics...It’s a virtuoso performance all round" (Ron Simpson, 2015). 

    As a Theatre Musician Roan has worked in numerous musicals and shows from ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ to Pantomime with TV stars, performing in diverse venues such as Arts Theatre West End, Royal Concert Halls Nottingham, the Theatre Royal Margate and many other theatres. (He can be seen performing with actress Gina Beck on the video page). He worked for some time in Comedy shows playing Keyboards and Drums (at the same time!) and in Children’s entertaining in theatres, festivals and venues across the country.  

   As a Pop, Folk and Brass Band Musician Roan has led his own Disco Band, performed in Ceilidh bands and military bands, plus in the famous Fanfar'Folizzz festival in Nogent-le-Rotrou, France. He has also recorded sessions on Vibes, Piano and Percussion in the pop industry, "The Groovy Uncle asked Roan Kearsey-Lawson to create a vibes part for 'Consider it Done'...laying down the track in one take, in fact it took longer to get the vibes in and out of the studio! Nice! Great!" (Glenn Prangnell, Groovy Uncle).

   As a World Music Performer Roan is a member of the globetrotting Macusi Players, performing in festivals on Vibes and Marimba alongside the legendary Guyanese flautist Keith Waithe.

   With three degrees from three different universities it surprises many that Roan is largely self-taught as a musician, and is a self taught Composer.

  Until recently Roan taught music privately from his home studio.  He has helped several students get into music conservatiores and colleges, he has helped a student on the BBC youn musician of the year, and for many years he taught in private and state schools.  After 26 years of teaching Roan now concentrates on Performing and Composing.  

   Roan had three years of piano and drum lessons at school and his first university degree was a joint honours in Social Science and Music (where he did performance studies in classical percussion) gaining a first class degree.

   Following his first degree Roan took a masters degree in Mysticism and Religious Experience and then a second masters degree in Systematic Theology.

   During that time of academic study Roan taught himself jazz piano, then in 2003 taught himself how to play jazz vibraphone whilst listening to BBC Radio jazz programmes rehearsing with all the greats!  (His first paid gig on vibes was Christmas 2004, and in 2005 he worked with Tony Coe, Don Rendell, Jim Hastings and Janusz Carmello.) Don Rendell after the first gig with Roan quoted him as 'brilliant'.

   The rest of his music education has been from the "University of Gigs".

   As a composer Roan first wrote a book with drum kit play-along tracks.  Then in 2012 he started writing his first compositions.  Since then he has written four albums and other commissions. 

   Pictured above performing piano on the Yacht Britannia Roan Kearsey-Lawson is a Grandson of Royal Stuart Family - A Cousin of Prime Minister Sir Spencer Perceval - &  a Direct Descendant from Black Slavery & a Pirate!

•      Grandfather's Line: Jazz musician Joseph Kearsey - a 1930's drummer for Ted Heath - through this line of inheritance Roan is a cousin of Sir Spencer Perceval who was the only British Prime Minister to be shot and killed whilst serving in office. He helped abolish slavery and wanted to be a musician, but his family felt he would make a better living in politics, where he had to deal with the Madness of King George III and paid his life for politics - Perhaps being a musician is a better option!! The link to Prime Minister Perceval is through RKL's Great Grandmother Mary Hughes. 

   Through this same line one of Roan's Grandfathers was the Member of Parliament for Twickenham and Roan's Great Uncle was Alexander Kearsey a highly decorated British war Colonel.

  Grandmother's Royal Connection to the Stuart Family:

• On his Grandmother's side (Joe Kearsey's wife) Roan Kearsey-Lawson is a relative of Janet Stuart, who is a direct relative of King James and Mary Queen of Scots. The direct royal line is several times Great Grandmother back to Janet Stuart! Roan's great grandmother Christiana Grieve is from Edinburgh. Her Dad, RKL's Great Great Grandad was in the Black Watch as a private guard to Queen Victoria. Through these Great Grandparent's the family line goes through successive parents to Janet Stuart in the 1600's, who was herself a of the Royal Stuart line and a direct relative of King James and Mary Queen of Scots.

   Through his Grandmother's line Roan is also a direct relation of a freed Slave from the Caribbean, Martha. Through this line RKL is from the Harper family. Based in Southhampton for over 500 years they were mainly pirates. One of RKL's great Grandfather pirates fought for both the US and UK in the wars of independence. He was of the famous Arnold family known in the US as a turncoat. However, his switch to the UK side freed Martha from slavery and married her around the same time RKL's other relative Prime Minister Sir Spencer Perceval was fighting for emancipation of slaves. On his album 'New York Connections' Roan has written Calypso for Martha. Roan's line comes direct from Martha.

Roan's first recording session was at 19 years old in Wandsworth in London.  He recorded in Fred Gardner's Dixieland Jazz Orchestra.  Since then he has recorded on several albums, on his own and others labels including:

• Three Trouserphonic Albums on the ZiP UP label playing Vibes, Tubular Bells, Piano and Conductor.  Music which now features in the British Museum as an archive of British contemporary pop culture.
• On Dominic Ashworth's Album Psyche, with the Digby Fairweather Band.  Performing on Marimba.
• Eight of Roan's Own Albums and for a Blues Band in Stockholm, Sweeden and many others.