Odds are you have no idea who Sam Lazar is and that you're hearing about him now for the first time. Don't feel bad. The organist is one of jazz's most puzzling figures.
Born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1933, he played piano and was in a St. Louis group led by Ernie Wilkins. When Wilkins left to join Count Basie, Lazar played in several groups in the St. Louis area. After serving in the Army from 1951 to 1953, he studied medical technology.
Then he went to see the Jimmy Smith Trio at Peacock Alley in St. Louis. Blown away, he took up the organ and formed a combo in the 1950s that included guitarists Grant Green and Joe Diorio.
Between 1960 and 1962, Lazar made three formidable soul-jazz albums for Chicago's Argo label—Space Flight, Playback and Soul Merchant. Then he completely disappeared from the music scene. Which is a shame considering how wonderfully he played.
Playback included Miller Brisker (ts), Sam Lazar (org), Joe Diorio (g) and Phillip Wilson (d).
Here's Sam Lazar's complete Playback (1962) without ad interruptions...
Born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1933, he played piano and was in a St. Louis group led by Ernie Wilkins. When Wilkins left to join Count Basie, Lazar played in several groups in the St. Louis area. After serving in the Army from 1951 to 1953, he studied medical technology.
Then he went to see the Jimmy Smith Trio at Peacock Alley in St. Louis. Blown away, he took up the organ and formed a combo in the 1950s that included guitarists Grant Green and Joe Diorio.
Between 1960 and 1962, Lazar made three formidable soul-jazz albums for Chicago's Argo label—Space Flight, Playback and Soul Merchant. Then he completely disappeared from the music scene. Which is a shame considering how wonderfully he played.
Playback included Miller Brisker (ts), Sam Lazar (org), Joe Diorio (g) and Phillip Wilson (d).
Here's Sam Lazar's complete Playback (1962) without ad interruptions...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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