AZAR LAWRENCE
The musical legacy of saxophonist Azar Lawrence began almost instantaneously at the age of 19 when he was spirited off to New York by Coltrane alumni, drummer, Elvin Jones' to join his (Jones') group Jazz Machine. Within a few years Azar became a member of McCoy Tyner's band. Azar recorded live 1973 at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Switzerland Tyner's Milestone album that includes the seminal piece; Walk Spirit Talk Spirt. He briefly joined Miles Davis' band, appearing on the historic 1974 live album "Dark Magus.'
He composed and wrote for Stanley Turrentine Earth, Wind and Fire and Woody Shaw. He performed with contemporary soul artists such as Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye. With seven albums as a leader; and still writing and producing Azar's follow-up to his 2010 release Mystic Journey, The Seeker (2014); recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard, was on the 2014 Grammy nomination ballot consideration list....
read more
AZAR LAWRENCE
The musical legacy of saxophonist Azar Lawrence began almost instantaneously at the age of 19 when he was spirited off to New York by Coltrane alumni, drummer, Elvin Jones' to join his (Jones') group Jazz Machine. Within a few years Azar became a member of McCoy Tyner's band. Azar recorded live 1973 at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, Switzerland Tyner's Milestone album that includes the seminal piece; Walk Spirit Talk Spirt. He briefly joined Miles Davis' band, appearing on the historic 1974 live album "Dark Magus.'
He composed and wrote for Stanley Turrentine Earth, Wind and Fire and Woody Shaw. He performed with contemporary soul artists such as Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye. With seven albums as a leader; and still writing and producing Azar's follow-up to his 2010 release Mystic Journey, The Seeker (2014); recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard, was on the 2014 Grammy nomination ballot consideration list.
Blowing stronger than ever, and still on the circuit; as one of the best to blend the elements of earth and the spirit through music; Azar Lawrence stands out as an distinctive instrumentalist with his searing, passionate saxophone sound and brilliant compositional style.
As one of the best to blend the elements of earth and the spirit through music, Azar Lawrence stands out as an distinctive instrumentalist with his searing, passionate saxophone sound and brilliant compositional style. Lawrence's new CD, 'Elementals' is scheduled to be released spring 2016.
DWIGHT TRIBLE
"With the ironic age gasping its last, Dwight Trible should be acclaimed king. More than a singer, the guy is our main local conduit for cosmic electricity; he opens his mouth and the spirit pours out.". - Greg Burk, L.A. Weekly, 2005.
Dwight Trible is a singer who combines the best of vocal virtuosity with musicianship and improvisational skills to the delight of audiences and musicians alike. In addition to performing with his own group, the Dwight Trible Ensemble, Dwight is the vocalist with the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet and is also the vocal director for the Horace Tapscott Pan Afrikan Peoples' Arkestra.
(With Pharaoh Sanders)
'Sanders moved forward from that point with a set that seemed oriented toward covering the numerous other stylistic elements contributing to his musical growth. A second tune emphasized harmonic improvising, and a third featured Trible's splendidly versatile voice in a ballad performance reminiscent of Johnny Hartman's work with Coltrane.' - Don Heckman, LA Times, June 8, 2006
MAHESH BALASOORIYA
Mahesh Balasooriya is a young jazz/classical pianist and an incredibly accomplished professional musician. He studied with Shelly Berg, (USC) Buddy Collete- Jazz America Hollywood young stars, and Jeff La Vener Colburn School of Performing Arts. Mahesh won Hamilton Music Academy's Best Musician of the Year award four consecutive years.
Mahesh is the recipient of countless awards and television appearances such as most and outstanding rhythm player at Monterey Jazz Festival, Best Jazz Musician award Fullerton Jazz Festival, first place in the Charles Dolo Coker competition, first place in the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts Talent Search, 2003; American Jazz Master Award 2003 and first place in the John Coltrane competition, 2003. He was selected and received World Best Young Jazz Pianist of the Year award and received Sri Lanka America Association Best Musician Award, among others. Mahesh worked at Sony, Paramount and Universal Recording studios composing music for three movies and short films.
Mahesh has also played and worked with many jazz greats including a world tour with living jazz including Grammy awards winner Arturo Sandoval, Grammy awards winner; R&B, Jazz singer Natalie Cole, and he also toured with Grammy award winners Bassist Stanley Clark, Cristian Mc Bride, Larry Goldings, Roy Hargrove, John Clayton, Eddie Daniels, Johnny Mandel, Randy Brecker, Eric Reed, Hubert Laws, and Patti Austin. He also performed for President Obama, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, at the Democratic Convention and many more.
JEFF LITTLETON
One of the most versatile and in demand bassists on the West Coast, Jeff Littleton has performed with a virtual who's who of top jazz artists including Nancy Wilson, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, Hank Crawford, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Higgins. Harold Land, Bobby Hutchinson and a long list of renowned musicians. He released The Littleton Brothers | Collage with Bobby Watson.
MARVIN "SMITTY" SMITH
Marvin 'Smitty' Smith is featured on more than 45 albums with a veritable list of additional performances and recordings that are augmented with names like Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison. Marvin's playing credits include top notables in music like Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Art Farmer, Benny Golson Slide Hampton, and Milt Jackson. A member for many years of the Tonight Show Band Marvin has played with the Buddy Holland Band, Wallace Roney, Sting, Mulgrew Miller and a substantial list of others.
Doors open 7:30p - Free Parking @ Roscoe's
Press: nytimes.com/2011/12/16/arts/music/azar-lawrence-quintet-at-jazz-standard-review.html?_r=0
Video: youtube.com/watch?v=ueiixQ0RYYI
Photo: azarlawrence.com/AzarLawrence_Spain_color.jpg
Event flyer: http://azarlawrence.com/SeaBird_12.26_web.jpg
Facebook event: facebook.com/events/1746426968913842/
Web:
azarlawrence.com
dwighttrible.com
Mahesh Balasooriya - youtube.com/watch?v=L3J7IomGuCc
show less