'Azar Lawrence has been compared to John Coltrane his whole working life, but he is not a replica. He plays Coltrane's instruments but not his licks and patterns. Even Lawrence's sound is a variant. On soprano saxophone he is somewhat more rounded, and has slightly more vibrato on tenor. What he shares with Coltrane is an intensity of passion that overwhelms everything in its path.
The Seeker hits like a sledgehammer from the opening track, 'Gandhi.' Lawrence writes elemental declamatory anthems that serve as launchpads. Their titles convey his understanding of music as a spiritual quest: 'Spirit Night,' 'The Seeker,' 'Venus Rising.' For all his fervor, there is logic and clarity in his onslaught of ideas. When he reenters for a second solo, like on 'Gandhi,' he can jolt you out of your chair.' Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times - September 2014...
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'Azar Lawrence has been compared to John Coltrane his whole working life, but he is not a replica. He plays Coltrane's instruments but not his licks and patterns. Even Lawrence's sound is a variant. On soprano saxophone he is somewhat more rounded, and has slightly more vibrato on tenor. What he shares with Coltrane is an intensity of passion that overwhelms everything in its path.
The Seeker hits like a sledgehammer from the opening track, 'Gandhi.' Lawrence writes elemental declamatory anthems that serve as launchpads. Their titles convey his understanding of music as a spiritual quest: 'Spirit Night,' 'The Seeker,' 'Venus Rising.' For all his fervor, there is logic and clarity in his onslaught of ideas. When he reenters for a second solo, like on 'Gandhi,' he can jolt you out of your chair.' Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times - September 2014
'The Seeker is a jaw-dropping joy: great musicians, great compositions and flavor that pays homage to John Coltrane while carving its own driving path. Azar Lawrence flashes soul-filled, spiritual tenor and soprano chops with a brand of fire that's riveting and timeless. For those not familiar with Lawrence, get hip now.' Frank Alkyer - Downbeat Magazine, July 2014
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. Lawrence's new CD, 'Elementals'; promises to be another 'red hot' production by the master of the sax; and is scheduled to be released spring 2016.
Nolan Shaheed is a high energy, highly experienced trumpeter and sound engineer. Not only can Nolan run the mile at world record pace, but he can blow your socks off with his expert trumpeting. Nolan contributed trumpet parts on 3 tracks of "The Secret of Christmas" and provided his studio and engineering services for the recording of all our horn, vibraphone, and choral tracks.
Nolan was born in Pasadena, CA and has been one of LA's top studio musicians since 1974. He is in great demand in the Jazz scene and was the musical director for Marvin Gaye , Lead Trumpet with Count Basie Orchestra, and worked with numerous other artists such as Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, and Anita Baker.
He has also performed and toured with: Eddie Harris, Teddy Edwards, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham, Francisco Aquabea. Nolan has been one He currently owns a recording studio and is a music producer.
Henry Franklin is a native of Los Angeles whose earliest memories of jazz were through his father, Sammy Franklin, a renowned trumpeter and bandleader. As a child, Henry was encouraged to take music seriously and with that he understood its emotional power.
Henry was still attending the Manual Arts High School when he played with his first professional band - the Roy Ayers Latin Jazz Quintet. "Roy went to a different high school from me", he said, "but we played together along with Bill Henderson, Carl Burnett and Elmo Jones." Around that same time, Henry met and worked with Harold Land and Hampton Hawes.
One night, Hugh Masekela heard Henry play and made him an offer. Three and a half years later the two would collaborate on Grazing in the Grass and then part ways with a great friendship and a gold record.
Henry also played extensively with Pharoah Sanders, Joe Williams, Sonny Rollins, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Fortune, Azar Lawrence, and among many others; Milt Jackson. There are more than 100 albums on which Henry appears, with many of them produced under his leadership.
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.
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.
Event Flyer: azarlawrence.com/sb1.30.16_web.jpg
Press: nytimes.com/2014/12/07/arts/music/revisiting-1964-coltrane.html?_r=0
Press: jazztimes.com/articles/138243-the-seeker-azar-lawrence
Press: nytimes.com/2014/06/28/arts/music/azar-lawrence-quintet-focuses-on-the-seeker.html?_r=0
Hi-Res Photo: azarlawrence.com/Zar8-pk.jpg
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