Abraham Laboriel

Abraham Laboriel

Abraham Laboriel, Sr. (born July 17, 1947) is a Mexican bassist of Garifuna descent who has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player Magazine described him as "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Laboriel is the father of drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel.

Laboriel was born in Mexico City, Afro-Mexican descent. Originally a classically trained guitarist, he switched to bass guitar while studying at the Berklee School of Music. Henry Mancini encouraged Laboriel to move to Los Angeles, California and pursue a recording career. Since then, he has worked with artists as diverse as Andraé Crouch, Donald Fagen, Lee Ritenour, Christopher Cross, Larry Carlton, Dave Grusin, Andy Pratt, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Hubbard, Hanson, Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Billy Cobham, Djavan, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Ray Charles, Madonna, Paul Simon, Keith Green, Carlos Skinfill, Alvaro Lopez and Res-Q Band, Lisa Loeb, Quincy Jones, Leo Sayer, Russ Taff, Engelbert Humperdinck, Andy Summers, Umberto Tozzi, Ron Kenoly, Don Moen, Alvin Slaughter, Johnny Hallyday, Crystal Lewis, Lalo Schifrin, Herbie Hancock, Chris Isaak, Paul Jackson Jr., and Michael Jackson.

When Laboriel recorded his three solo albums (Dear Friends, Guidum, and Justo & Abraham), he recruited a cast of musicians that included Alex Acuña, Al Jarreau, Jim Keltner, Phillip Bailey, Ron Kenoly, and others. His son Abe Laboriel Jr. performed drums.

Laboriel was a founding member of the bands Friendship and Koinonia. He plays live regularly with Greg Mathieson, drummer Bill Maxwell, and Justo Almario. Laboriel is now in the band Open Hands with Justo Almario, Greg Mathieson, and Bill Maxwell.

In 2005, Abraham was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by the Berklee College of Music.