Friday, October 16, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Houston, Texas
Azar Lawrence featuring Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Benito Gonzalez, Buster Williams - The Love Supreme 50th Anniversary Band
Venue: Da Camera of Houston - Wortham Center/Cullen Theater - 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 713.524.5050
Friday, November 6, 2015; Pre show discussion 7:30p - Show 8p
December 9, 2014 marked the 50th year anniversary of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, a masterpiece of hard bop, free jazz, and soulful spirituality. Considered by many to be among Coltrane's most seminal works; A Love Supreme was influential in his quest for a divine musical freedom....
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Friday, October 16, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Houston, Texas
Azar Lawrence featuring Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Benito Gonzalez, Buster Williams - The Love Supreme 50th Anniversary Band
Venue: Da Camera of Houston - Wortham Center/Cullen Theater - 501 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 713.524.5050
Friday, November 6, 2015; Pre show discussion 7:30p - Show 8p
December 9, 2014 marked the 50th year anniversary of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, a masterpiece of hard bop, free jazz, and soulful spirituality. Considered by many to be among Coltrane's most seminal works; A Love Supreme was influential in his quest for a divine musical freedom.
The musical legacy of saxophonist Azar Lawrence began almost instantaneously at the age of 19 when he was spirited off to New York by Coltrane alumni, drummer, Elvin Jones' to join his (Jones') group Jazz Machine. Within a few years Azar became a member of McCoy Tyner's band. Azar recorded 1973 live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux Switzerland;Tyner's Milestone album that includes the seminal piece; Walk Spirit Talk Spirt. He briefly joined Miles Davis' band, appearing on the historic 1974 live at Carnegie Hall album Dark Magus.
He composed and wrote for Stanley Turrentine Earth, Wind and Fire and Woody Shaw. He performed with contemporary soul artists such as Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye. And he performed on the latters' Grammy winning album; Hear My Dear. With seven albums as a leader; and still writing and producing Azar's follow-up to his 2010 release Mystic Journey, The Seeker (2014); recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard, was on the 2014 Grammy nomination ballot consideration list.
Blowing stronger than ever, and still on the circuit; as part of the year long recognition and commemoration of A Love Supreme's 50th year anniversary taking place worldwide; Azar Lawrence - The Love Supreme 50th Anniversary Band performs Friday, November 6, 2015 at Da Camera of Houston - Wortham Center/Cullen Theater, Houston Texas.
Joining Azar is an All-Star Rhythm Section of fellow band leaders featuring five time Grammy recipient, drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts; with fellow Grammy recipient bassist Buster Williams and 2005 Great American Piano Competition winner, Benito Gonzalez.
Describing the celebratory performance at New York's Jazz Standard; writer and reviewer, Teo Chepilov said 'It was simply breathtaking, the show of a lifetime, and the audience in the packed club was truly mesmerized.’
Ben Ratliff of the New York Times in attendance at the above said, 'To hear Mr. Lawrence upshift through his improvisations, honoring a song's rhythm and harmony and then breaking free of it, is one of jazz's current thrills, and he understands this music as well as anyone.' Ben Ratliff, New York Times, December 2014
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. Save the date!
Press: nytimes.com/2014/12/07/arts/music/revisiting-1964-coltrane
Artist sites: azarlawrence.com, tainish.com, busterwilliams.com, benitogonzalez.com
Venue / Tickets: dacamera.com
Flyer: azarlawrence.com/Azar_DaCamera_11.6_web.jpg
Contact: [email protected]
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