Jazz Articles

Azar Lawrence: Mystic Journey

by Glenn Astarita
January 13, 2011

Saxophonist Azar Lawrence's influential faculties and stylistic attack loom as significant contributions to the state of jazz, a genre that continually reinvents itself. He's played with jazz greats including McCoy Tyner and Miles Davis, amid stints with soul and pop icons. On Mystic Journey, Lawrence rekindles the John Coltrane connection, featuring Rashied Ali's presence and the band's rendition of Tyner's enduring “Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit." Ali passed away several months after these sides were recorded in April, ...

Azar Lawrence: Mystic Journey

by Chuck Koton
May 27, 2010

Azar LawrenceMystic JourneyFurthermore Recordings2010

Unlike many who stumble in the darkness for years, tenor and soprano saxophonist Azar Lawrence discovered his way in life early, knowing that he would be journeying down a road filled with music. By the time he turned 21, Lawrence had already played with revered jazz musicians such as drummer Elvin Jones, pianist McCoy Tyner and trumpeter Miles Davis. During this period in the 1970s, Lawrence also released ...

Dennis Gonzalez: A Matter Of Blood

by Mark Corroto
September 3, 2009

The reemergence of trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez continues. But, to quote an infamous rapper, “Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." And Gonzalez has been making music for many years. Since he has lived the last three decades in Texas, the New York-centric jazz world tended to overlook him. With a flurry of activity of late, it is nearly impossible to ignore him.

He recorded for Sweden's Silkheart in the 1980s, and more recently Portugal's Clean ...

Azar Lawrence: Prayer For My Ancestors

by Chuck Koton
May 2, 2009

Azar Lawrence is a man on a mission. His task: to express beautiful, healing music.

At a young age, Lawrence was already touring and recording with jazz legends like Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Miles Davis. Then, after recording several successful albums, including Bridge into a New Age (Prestige 1974) and Summer Solstice (Prestige 1975), decades inexplicably passed before he would lead another studio session. Lawrence still played and recorded with a wide array of great artists like ...