As straight ahead as Jazz can get!!!!! Azar Lawrence is considered to be a direct descendant of John Coltrane via his years with McCoy Tyner. An American treasure Azar's recorded with Tyner, Miles Davis, Woody Shaw among others. He wrote for Earth, Wind & Fire and performs on Marvin Gaye's Grammy winning album Hear My Dear.
AZAR LAWRENCE
One of the most powerful and distinctive of all post–Coltrane tenorists, Azar Lawrence has been a sometimes quiet force in music for over three decades. Born in 1952 in Los Angeles by the age of 21 he had worked with Ike & Tina Turner, War, and Charles Wright’s Watts 103rd Street Band (“Express Yourself”).
At an early age, Azar Lawrence left his mark on Jazz. Hired by drummer Elvin Jones when he was just 19, the prodigious young saxophonist would be tapped soon after by McCoy Tyner to fill the large shoes of collaborator John Coltrane. Throughout the '70's, Lawrence recorded with Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw.
Like his contemporaries Herbie Hancock and Charles Lloyd, Lawrence forayed into pop music, recording with Earth Wind & Fire, Frank Zappa and Marvin Gaye. Since the early 2000's, the consummate artist has returned full force to his post-Bob Jazz roots.
Lawrence's distinctive sound embodies a deep spirituality, which can be heard on Tyner's "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit", and his own numerous recordings on Prestige.
Within the past six years, he's performed, written, and produced four CD's; 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.
GILBERT CASTELLANOS
Awarded at the 23rd annual San Diego Music Awards (SDMA) as Artist of the Year, Best Jazz Album and Best Jazz. Recognized by Downbeat Magazine as a ‘New American Master’, Castellanos Latino background via Cuba &
Mexico City has given him the opportunity to work with world-reknown artists that incude Wynton Marsalis, Charlie Hayden, Les McCann, Poncho Sanchez, Diana Krall, Willie Nelson, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Dizzy Gillespie and many others.
THEO SAUNDERS
A native New Yorker, 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.
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.
HYPERLINK: Event Flyer -http://azarlawrence.com/SB10.25_625.jpg
HYPERLINK: Press - http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/28/arts/music/azar-lawrence-quintet-focuses-on-the-seeker.html?_r=0
HYPERLINK: Hi-Res Photo - http://azarlawrence.com/Zar8-pk.jpg
HYPERLINK: Website - www.azarlawrence.com
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