"...He got into higher registers and freer shapes — tantalizingly so, sometimes. He seems in possession of a great, almost ecstatic power, but he cares about songs, and their shape and melody always pulled him back to earth. He controlled several mixtures of things that could seem like opposites: easy, melodic swing and bottom-line seriousness; short-line form and long-line expressiveness." - Ben Ratliff, New York Times
AZAR LAWRENCE
Within the past six years, he's performed, written, and produced five CD's; Azar Lawrence - The Seeker, Mystic Journey, 2010 (Mystic Journey received over five Bests of 2010), Prayer For My Ancestors, (Prayer was given honorable mention for Best of 2009, AllAboutJazz/New York) Speak The Word, 2008 and he also lead and co-produced a live tribute album, Legacy and Music of John Coltrane, in 2006....
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"...He got into higher registers and freer shapes — tantalizingly so, sometimes. He seems in possession of a great, almost ecstatic power, but he cares about songs, and their shape and melody always pulled him back to earth. He controlled several mixtures of things that could seem like opposites: easy, melodic swing and bottom-line seriousness; short-line form and long-line expressiveness." - Ben Ratliff, New York Times
AZAR LAWRENCE
Within the past six years, he's performed, written, and produced five CD's; Azar Lawrence - The Seeker, Mystic Journey, 2010 (Mystic Journey received over five Bests of 2010), Prayer For My Ancestors, (Prayer was given honorable mention for Best of 2009, AllAboutJazz/New York) Speak The Word, 2008 and he also lead and co-produced a live tribute album, Legacy and Music of John Coltrane, in 2006.
His current Oeuvre doesn't miss a beat, with frequent New York and Los Angeles shows that sparkle with virtuosity, and vivid ideas and textures. To the discerning listener, Lawrence's depth can only be attributed to one who has 'been there'. And 'there' he most definitely was.
In New York December 2011 at the Jazz Standard Azar performed with a powerful rhythm section comprised of Nicholas Payton, Trumpet; Jeff "Tain" Watts, drums; Benito Gonzalez, piano and Essiet Okon Essiet on bass.
Of that evening Nate Chinen of the New York Times said about Azar, "he played as if plugging into a life force. He seemed committed to the idea of the self as a vessel; those winds were whipping through him."
The result of that show was seven new compositions by Azar Lawrence, to be titled, Azar Lawrence 'The Seeker' - Live at the Jazz Standard'. 'The Seeker', co-produced by Grammy winner, Seth Abramson and Azar Lawrence is a slice of a continuum of the path of knowledge and truth that Azar has been on since his earliest days in the music.
JEFFREY ROBINSON
Though primarily a jazz singer Jeff Robinson blends a touch of r&b, adult contemp, even hip hop into his self penned material. Robinson's work has been diverse as contributing vocals to smooth jazz projects by Brian Simpson, to adding vocals to Coolio's My Soul cd before releasing his eponymous cd, Any Shade of Blue in 1998.
This cd exploded on the jazz scene in London, immediately getting play listed on jazz fm, allowing him to make appearances at the famous Jazz Cafe.
Echonews, a musical magazine in London rated Any Shade of Blue one of the top five releases for that year.
Originally from New York, Jeff resides in Los Angeles. He is a household name in many jazz circles, getting his start at the World Stage in Leimert Park. He has performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival and the best jazz venues on the West Coast.
THEO SAUNDERS
A native New Yorker, Theo Saunders has lived in California since 1985, but his musical career remains international in scope. Saunders' musical odyssey has taken him to four continents and more than twenty countries.Growing up in NYC, he played with Pharoah Sanders in the 1960s, and in 1971 (at age 24), at the Village Vanguard with the likes of Jimmy Garrison and Jack DeJohnette in a group led by guitarist Sonny Greenwich. Appearing on more than 40 recordings as a sideman, he has accompanied everyone from Sonny Fortune and Charles Lloyd to Freddie Hubbard and Ray Mantilla, and has six recordings as a leader.
HENRY FRANKLIN
Henry Frankliln was with Roy Ayers & wrote and recorded Grazin In the Grass with Hugh Masakela. Henry also published a method book for all bass players entitled, Bassically Yours. There are more than 100 albums on which Henry appears, many under his leadership. They include: The Skipper and The Skipper at Home (Black Jazz label), Three Card Molly, Bassic Instincts, The Hunter, Bass Encounters (Resurgent Music label), Colemanology, Ears Wide Open, Three Worlds, A Musical Tribute to Gene Harris featuring Three More Sounds, and more.
ALPHONSE MOUZON
ALPHONSE MOUZON musical associations read like a veritable Who's Who of Modern Jazz and Pop Music. His talents cover a broad range of musical disciplines and philosophies. He was the rhythmic foundation for the far reaching musical explorations of pianist McCoy Tyner. He was a charter member along with keyboardist Joe Zawinul and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, of the group Weather Report. Along with guitarist Larry Coryell, MOUZON was co-founder of The Eleventh House, the seminal fusion band of the seventies. Mouzon and Coryell still tour together in a trio and with the Eleventh House.
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