INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES Azar Lawrence Quintet

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SERIES Azar Lawrence Quintet

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This event is expired ( May 05, 2012 )

Azar Lawrence - saxophone
Gilbert Castellanos - trumpet
Benito Gonzalez - piano
Henry Franklin - bass
Lorca Hart - drums

Saxophonist Azar Lawrence is known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist Tyner used following John Coltrane's death.

Born in Los Angeles in 1952, Lawrence's musical studies began at age five. He received direction from his mother, a music educator, starting as a classically trained violinist and pianist before switching to saxophone at age twelve. He resided on his hometown's famed Central Avenue which was Southern California's jazz Mecca. The vibe of that scene clearly seeped into his musical consciousness.

While in high-school he met the late Reggie Golson and become an extended member of Benny Golson's family. Thanks to Reggie, Azar's professional music life began in his late teens when he was asked to join Elvin Jones' band, The Jazz Machine.

During his years performing with Elvin Jones and later with McCoy Tyner, he was also a music executive with Fantasy/Prestige Records, worked as a songwriter at Capitol Records and also at Orion Pictures which was involved with the long-standing Hollywood Squares television show. He wrote three songs for Earth Wind & Fire's "Powerlight" album and performing on keys on that disc.

As a leader his seminal work "Bridge into the New Age" in 1974 was lauded as a classic and has recently been reissued. His discography is diverse with names like Frank Zappa, Busta Rhymes, Woody Shaw's "Moontrane", and "Dark Magus" by Miles Davis.

Within the past few years, he has performed, written, and produced several CDs including "Speak The Word" and "Prayer For My Ancestors" which received an honourable mention for Best of 2009 by All About Jazz/New York. He also lead and co-produced a live tribute album "Legacy and Music of John Coltrane" in 2006.

Azar Lawrence's latest release "Mystic Journey" will without a doubt again place him amongst jazz's elder statesmen. His bold style reminds the listener of the energy, spirituality and emotion that John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders and others brought to jazz in the 1960s and 1970s. He rekindles the memory of one of the most explosive eras in jazz history, channeling the fiery spirit of Coltrane's legacy. Unlike most Coltrane wannabes, he lived and breathed the music of the turbulent 60s, playing with Coltrane's contemporaries and peers.

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