1. Skip to navigation 2. Skip to content 3. Skip to sidebar 4. Skip to footer Sign In I'm New Here Articles Sounds Calendar Forum Guides News People Photos Contact Home > CD/LP/Track Review http://j.mp/hOP1Qn 78 Mystic Journey Azar Lawrence | Furthermore Recordings (2010) Like Be the first of your friends to like this. By GLENN ASTARITA Discuss Print Email Published: January 13, 2011 Track review of "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit" 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, 2009; in turn, Lawrence dedicated the album to the Personnel: Azar Lawrence: drummer's music and memory. "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit," is one tenor and soprano of several euphoric pieces that surges this album into the upper saxophone; Eddie echelon of 2010 releases. Henderson: trumpet and flugelhorn; Gerald Hayes: Atop Ali's shifty Latin-rock backdrop, Lawrence, trumpeter Eddie alto saxophone; Benito Henderson, and alto saxophonist Gerald Hayes execute Gonzalez: piano; Essiet resonating choruses when reformulating the primary theme. And Essiet: bass; Rashied Ali: they strike a flawless balance between melody making and drums. SHOP JAZZ [ MORE ] improvisation, while launching into an invigorating swing vamp after the bridge. "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit" depicts one of many Style: absorbing works evidenced on Mystic Journey. Straightahead/Mainstream Azar Lawrence at All About Jazz | More Links... Count Basie 0 Go to Event Listings » released “Mystic Journey” (Furthermore), his first album to receive widespread attention in decades. (It was among the final record dates played by Rashied Ali, the powerful drummer of Coltrane’s late period.) This year Mr. Lawrence appeared on an album by the Cookers, a knockabout hard-bop brotherhood; he also made his debut at the Jazz Standard, drawing from his own album. His return to the club this week is furnishing the material for a live release, “The Seeker.” Judging by the raw material on Tuesday, the first of two nights, it should be a powerhouse, more bracingly immediate than “Mystic Journey,” with stronger group cohesion. Once again Mr. Lawrence had enlisted the Tyneresque pianist Benito Gonzalez and the unflappable bassist Essiet Okon Essiet. But rounding out the band was a pair of aces, the trumpeter Nicholas Payton and the drummer Jeff (Tain) Watts, each deadly and in his element. 7. THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN It’s P.Q. and C.Q. as Much as I.Q. 8. STATE OF THE ART BlackBerry, Rebuilt, Lives to Fight Another Day 9. THOMAS B. EDSALL The Hidden Prosperity of the Poor 10. FRUGAL TRAVELER Should You Buy Travel Insurance? Go to Complete List » Show My Recommendations All but one of the compositions were by Mr. Lawrence. (The exception was “One More Time,” an Afro-Cuban excursion by Mr. Gonzalez.) There was some Coltrane genuflection in “Rain Ballad,” which borrowed the simmering rubato of “After the Rain,” along with some harmonic shading from “Naima.” But there were also bursts of fiery jazz-funk, as in “The Lost Tribes of Lemuria,” and jazz-rock, as in “Venus Rising.” Whatever the groove, Mr. Watts doubled as bricklayer and demolition man, setting up substructures and pummeling against them, always with momentum in mind. Mr. Payton took a slyer approach, employing strategies of escalation. His solo on “Spirit Night,” early on, set the standard. Coming on the heels of an impassioned essay by Mr. Lawrence, it began quietly, broodingly. Gradually Mr. Payton introduced some close chromatic tensions, varying the angle and pressure with each pass. And finally he hit a climactic high note, its impact hardly disarmed by its inevitability. Over and out. Seeking surprises for a Super Bowl party? ALSO IN DINING & WINE » New Orleans has become a laboratory for desserts Bacon, and how it came to be If Mr. Payton’s best solos assumed compelling dynamic arcs, Mr. Lawrence’s evoked the formless clout of the elements. Letting loose with his big sound, often worrying a phrase into incantation, he worked toward a prayerful froth. A version of this review appeared in print on December 16, 2011, on page C4 of the New York edition with the headline: A Bracing Wind, Propelling a Dynamic Comeback. Ads by Google SIGN IN TO EMAIL what's this? Download a Free Audiobook PRINT No Shipping, No Waiting. Try Now! REPRINTS Listen on iPod/ mp3/ smartphone www.audible.com Get 50% Off The New York Times & Free All Digital Access. Get Free E-mail Alerts on These Topics Music Jazz Standard Ads by Google what's this? Brain Training Games Improve memory and attention with scientific brain games. www.lumosity.com INSIDE NYTIMES.COM HOME & GARDEN » BOOKS » HEALTH » OPINION » OPINION » FASHION & STYLE » Featured CDs Editorsʼ Picks JUNE 2010 Select from the Archive Go BY FRANK ALKYER Timeline by Yellowjackets No Ordinary Day by Toph-E & the Pussycats Jason Moran, Ten (Blue Note) Ten documents composer/bandleader/pianist Jason Moran a decade after his debut recording for the Blue Note label. Itʼs a simple enough concept, but the title alone doesnʼt do justice to the development of Moran during that time span. That first record, Soundtrack To Human Motion, gave us just a hint of a young pianist full of ideas and hope. But Ten shows Moran as a mature, searching artist fully in control of his musical vision. Heʼs become one of the best jazz artists of his generation, one of the best making music today. Ten serves as proof. With his fine trio The Bandwagon (which includes drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Tarus Mateen), Moran mixes abundant playing chops with an ability to capture the soul of what it means to be a jazz artist today. The influences fly in from all fields — classical and jazz to hip-hop, soul, gospel, the blues and pop. One great aspect of the recording is that the originals are as strong as the covers. Moranʼs “Blue Blocks” and “Gangsterism Over 10 Years” sound just as good as his updates of Thelonious Monkʼs “Crepuscule With Nellie” and Leonard Bernsteinʼs “Big Stuff.” Mateenʼs beautiful ballad “The Subtle One” holds its own when followed by The Bandwagonʼs buoyantly fun version of Jaki Byardʼs “To Bob Vatel Of Paris.” Ten is a “10.” Buy Now » MARCH 2011 BY ED ENRIGHT Geri Allen, Flying Toward The Sound and Geri Allen & Timeline – Live (Motéma) Princeton Record Exchange Browse a huge selection of Jazz Records, used CDs featuring Jazz CDs & used DVDs at one of the largest Record Stores. Sell us your Jazz Vinyl, Jazz DVDs & CDs. Paying Top $ Since 1980 for Jazz LPs: Blue Note, Prestige, Mosaic, Impulse & more. Buy new rare vinyl on Record Store Day For all that pianist Allen has achieved as a composer, performer and scholar, these two new CD releases vividly document her boundless curiosity, innovation and commitment to growth in every aspect of her artistry. Flying Toward The Sound is a moving solo disc that features Allen playing a suite of compositions on a Fazioli piano; a blend of scored and improvised passages, her playing here is informed and inspired by modern piano giants Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock. When Allen tours the U.S. and abroad in support of the CD, she will share the stage with thematic film projections created by performance artist Carrie Mae Weems; a taste of the visual imagery from the live shows is included as enhanced content on the CD. The music on the companion release Geri Allen & Timeline – Live (Allenʼs first live release) offers a completely different perspective. The Timeline band — which includes bassist Kenny Davis, drummer Kassa Overall and tap percussionist Maurice Chestnut — represents another facet of Allen in which she embraces elements of dance, rhythmic syncopation and intense band dialog. Buy Now » BY FRANK ALKYER David Smith Quintet, Anticipation (Brooklyn Jazz Underground) Anticipation is a perfect title for the latest release from the David Smith Quintet. Every note on this record is played with a hunger and burst thatʼs missing from much of jazz today. Smith, a Canadian-born trumpeter living in New York, has power and beautiful tone on his instrument, and heʼs a fine composer, too. A fixture on New Yorkʼs underground scene, Smith has surrounded himself here with like-minded souls who create music thatʼs on the edge but surprisingly comfortable, too. Smith, saxophonist Kenji Omae and guitarist Nate Radley have a natural musical affinity. They play easily off of each otherʼs musical ideas, weaving beautiful lines and interplay. Meanwhile, bassist Gary Wang and drummer Greg Ritchie provide a solid rhythmic backdrop, with Ritchie dropping in his own sonic bombs and sweet touches. High points on the recording are the title track and “Bittersweet” (both Smith originals), a version of “All Or Nothing At All” thatʼs quite different from any youʼve heard, and a Radley original called “Carillon” that serves as a jumping-off point for some of the strongest soloing on the recording. Buy Now » BY ED ENRIGHT Ernie Watts Quartet, Four Plus Four (Flying Dolphin) Tenor saxophonist Watts has two quartets: His U.S. outfit with pianist David Witham, bassist Bruce Lett and drummer Bob Leatherbarrow has been gigging for some 20 years, while his German-based group with pianist Christopher Saenger, bassist Rudi Engel and drummer Heinrich Koebberling has been working together for more than a decade. On Four Plus Four Watts brings the two ensembles together, so to speak, recording three tracks with each quartet and one tune with both (the centerpiece “Through My Window,” which segues from one to the other). The cross- On Newsstands Now The April 2011 issue of DownBeat highlights the Marsalis Family on the cover, recent recipients of the NEAʼs Jazz Masters Award. Other artists featured in this issue include pianist Benny Green, vocalist Kurt Elling, saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom, pianist Lynne Arriale, flutist Nicole Mitchell, bassist Linda Oh, keyboardist Rachel Z and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. continental recording sessions with each quartet were held several months apart, but you wouldn't know it by listening, as Watts and his varied musical partners merge seamlessly into a single entity. Parallel universes collide on Four Plus Four, a personal travelogue for Watts that transports the listener overseas and back again in just under an hour. Buy Now » BY ED ENRIGHT Marian Petrescu Quartet, Thrivinʼ: Live At The Jazz Standard (Resonance) Romanian pianist Petrescu combines his conservatory training and an attitude of jazz-inspired abandon on this live release, which brims with brains and swagger. In fact, you could say it downright burns with kinetic energy. From the speedy set-opener “Cakewalk” through a no-hold-barred solo performance of “Indiana,” Petrescu and his team (Andreas Oberg, guitar; David Finck, bass; Mark McLean, drums) show plenty of flair and sensitivity as they tackle a hard-swinging program of jazz and songbook standards. If you enjoyed last yearʼs CD The Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute To Oscar Peterson, youʼll immediately recognize Petrescuʼs deft touch, masterful technique and impassioned improvising. Gentler tracks like “My Romance” and “Blue In Green” bring out the hushed romantic in Petrescu and give his quartet some space and time to reflect. Buy Now » BY AARON COHEN Keefe Jackson Quartet, Seeing You See (Clean Feed) For the past few years, saxophonist/bass clarinetist Keefe Jackson has been a major player among a new generation of Chicago jazz musicians who are investigating new directions for jazz composition and band interplay. This disc is kind of a stripped-down followup to his earlier Fast Citizens and Project Project, both of which are larger ensembles. Here, the quartet is ideal for taking on — and, seemingly, having great fun with — the sudden stops and starts on such tunes as “Turns To Everything.” The most striking moments on this disc are often the most sparse, like the duet between Jackson (on bass clarinet) and bassist Jason Roebke on the aptly named “How-A-Low.” BY AARON COHEN Azar Lawrence, Mystic Journey (Furthermore) Saxophonist Azar Lawrence, who came up under the tutelage of McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones, has certainly earned the right to delve into his inner-Coltrane urge. And his latest disc (recorded in April 2009) also features one of the last recordings from the late drummer Rashied Ali, a latter-day Coltrane sideman. Lawrence nails the Trane tone and attack, whether itʼs a cascade of sound (like the title track) or a big-hearted warmth on ballads (check out his take on Frank Loesserʼs “Say It Over Again”). But this disc also captures what a lot of Coltrane disciples have forgotten: the importance of highlighting a great group. It can be heard particularly in the striking interplay among Lawrence, alto saxophonist Gerald Hayes and trumpeter Eddie Henderson. Pianist Benito Gozalez also shines on his three compositions. BY FRANK ALKYER Gabor Szabo, Jazz Raga (Impulse!/Light In The Attic Records) Gabor Szabo is said to have influenced the music of everyone from Carlos Santana to Beck. He graced the cover of the Oct. 5, 1967, edition of DownBeat magazine with a message: “Jazz musicians would have a great future if theyʼd make these few adjustments and play 1967 style. I donʼt mean commercialize themselves but bend just a little bit with the times.” His new record at that time, Jazz Raga, had just come out, and boy did he bend — like a contortionist. Four decades later, Jazz Raga, Szaboʼs fantastically trippy worldfusion record has been reissued on CD and vinyl for the first time. Itʼs a great-sounding, great-looking package. The 40-page booklet includes terrific liner notes, and interviews with drummer Bernard Purdie and bassist Jack Gregg, who both played on the recording, as well as Rudy Van Gelder, the engineer on the project. It also includes that 1967 cover article from DB, and some flat-out wild music, too. Szabo, a Hungarian-born string musician, plays guitar and sitar, weaving music thatʼs a melding of Eastern and European styles and culture with ʼ60s psychedelia. That said, itʼs surprisingly poppy, too. When you hear tunes like the Szabo original “Walking On Nails” and his cover of The Rolling Stones' “Paint It Black,” thereʼs no doubt that weʼre deep in flower-power territory, but itʼs a fun diversion. In case thereʼs any doubt, thereʼs an ode to Ravi Shankar (“Ravi”) as well as his unique take on tunes like “Caravan” and “Summertime.” While Szabo passed away in 1982, Jazz Raga remains as a testament to forward-thinking musicianship. BY AARON COHEN Various Artists, How Sweet It Was (Shanachie) This CD/DVD package of gospelʼs golden era (1940s through ʼ60s) is as universally spirited as everyone should expect when the cast includes Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. But itʼs not just these stars who make this such an essential set. Producer Anthony Heilbut — author of the classic study The Gospel Sound — digs deeply and gives equal time to such equally stirring, if lesser-known, groups as Morgan Babb and the Radio Four (“My Imagination Of Heaven”). And as Tharpeʼs “Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air” has become a YouTube hit (more than 400,000 views), this DVD presents the performance in the sterling video quality it deserves. Many of the best tracks, like Dorothy Love Coatesʼ house-wrecking duet with Claude Jeter on “Coming Home,” have never been released before. While these soloists and quartets set the foundation for the r&b and rock ʼnʼ roll that followed, Heilbutʼs accompanying 1. Skip to navigation 2. Skip to content 3. Skip to sidebar 4. Skip to footer Hi, Linda G. MY AAJ Your Profile Sign Out Messages Articles Sounds Calendar Concerts & Festivals Popular Upcoming Shows Submit a Show Search for a Show Upcoming CD Releases Editorial Calendar Forum Guides News People Photos Contact Home > Multiple Reviews 145 Life After Rashied: Live at the Woodstock Playhouse 1965; Why Not?; Eddie Jefferson at Ali's Alley; Configurations--The Music of John Coltrane; Mystic Journey Like 4 people like this. By GORDON MARSHALL Discuss Print Email Published: May 15, 2010 Burton Greene Marion Brown Rashied Ali Quintet Rashied Ali with Azar Lawrence Live at the Why Not? Featuring Eddie Prima Materia Mystic Journeys Woodstock ESP Jefferson at Ali's Configurations— Furthermore Playhouse 1965 2009 Alley The Music of John 2010 Porter Blue Music Group Coltrane 2010 2010 Blue Music Group 2009 SHOP JAZZ [ MORE ] 0 Before his death in August 2009, Rashied Ali was best known for his role as Coltrane's last drummer, replacing Elvin Jones of the classic quartet. Ali led Coltrane in a new direction with the percussive style he created, labeled "multi-directionalism." The term is prone to Count Basie Verve Fifties Studio Recordings Buy Now misunderstanding and a plethora of interpretations—which is a good part of its strength: since it can't be put into words, it forces musical interpretation that, in turn, forces music forward. The phenomenon unfolds on five new releases, two from the '60s that feature Ali in quartets, SHOWCASE ARTIST [ MORE ] one from 1976 with his quintet backing vocalist Eddie Jefferson and one, from 2009, on which he leads the group Prima Materia. Capping these off is Azar Lawrence's newest album dedicated to and featuring Ali in what is presumably his last recording. These discs confirm Ali's achievement before and beyond his service with Coltrane and cement a legacy. In the year after Ali's passing, we are privileged to have such a spate of indications of his multifaceted talent. Zach Brock The Magic Number Buy Now Pianist Burton Greene's Live at the Woodstock Playhouse 1965 begins with a cool, melancholy waltz, "Tree Theme II," almost along the lines of a Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond effort like "Take Five." This quickly changes as alto saxophonist Marion Brown embarks on a hard-edged STAY CONNECTED modal adventure, with Greene laying down darker chords. This is early Ali, sounding much like the guy he ousted, Elvin Jones. Bassist Reggie Johnson plucks double stops quietly in the background and Greene's solo is crossed with impressionist classical tones, the theme returning JAZZ NEAR YOU with a hint of baroque polyphony. "Cluster Quartet II," the second track, draws more from post- What's near you? bop proper, but Greene punches down some clusters after the head. Then Ali breaks form, unleashing a free-tempo excursion, carried ferociously forward in the half-hour final track, "Like It Is." This is the big bang of multi-directionalism. GLOBAL COVERAGE View by Region Why Not?, though Marion Brown's album, is about interactive dynamics. It is airy, but by no means tepid. Ali rips on his solos here; elsewhere he explores space as Brown, bassist Sirone and pianist Stanley Cowell explore the temporal dimension. This is an album about time, crosscurrents of speed and anticipation and patience and quietude, astir. Cowell is a particular standout. With wide ranging dynamics, he touches on dissonance yet brings it back into the clear of the lyrical. This is unusual for Brown, known for his frenetics first found on Coltrane's Ascension (Impulse!, 1965). He is as likely to hint at ballads with standard changes as to race up and down the chromatic scale. The band plays subtly against and in contrast with one another rather than chase the same game in cacophony. The release with Eddie Jefferson At Ali's Alley is, as a Jefferson album can only be, in some ways a delight. Ali himself shows he can do bop and swing as well as anything or anyone and the rest of the quintet (Jimmy Vass and Marvin Blackman, saxophones; Marsha Frazier, piano; Benny Wilson, bass) is excellent. Jefferson treads through such favorites as "Now's the Time" and "So What." However, he seems a little tired on this 1976 live recording, taken from Ali's own club. It is only on the ballads, his signature number "Body and Soul" and "Moody's Mood for Love," the hit for King Pleasure, that he comes fully to life and his voice soars—but these TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS [ MORE ] 1974 John Ellis 1928 Teddy Charles 1955 David Kane 1906 Bud Freeman 1946 Al Green work out the permutations of Ali's drumming style. As substitute for Coltrane, tenor saxophonist 1977 Florian Hierdeis Louie Belogenis merits most scrutiny. Despite all appearances, Belogenis is not a passion player 1955 Simon Spang-Hanssen in the mode of Coltrane. Sometimes deadpan, sometimes humorous or even dead serious, he 1985 Zack Moir are priceless moments and must be heard or heard again. Ali's Configurations is a drier affair, but it does yield warmth. Ali made this album (a retread of a posthumously released recording he did with Coltrane in 1967, Stellar Regions) because he felt he could improve on the first effort with 40 years hindsight. In many ways he was right. Ali engages Prima Materia as a nexus to a plexus. The title is apt: Prima Materia configure and seems like a swing stylist gone wild, but all his moves are cerebral and rational. He can create Coltrane-esque effects, but this happens where it is called for, propelled by Ali's statements, which are as impeccable as when he started out. Allan Chase, on alto and soprano, has the bite. Tenor saxophonist Azar Lawrence's Mystic Journey charts a spiritual quest. Lawrence steers a ON THIS DAY | QUOTES sextet of Eddie Henderson (trumpet and flugelhorn), Gerald Hayes (alto sax), Benito Gonzalez (piano), Essiet Essiet (bass) and Ali adeptly through the traditions of hard modal and hard bop, with a turn or two to bossa nova. The ride is so smooth it is easy to overlook the complex activity at play. Lawrence varies his attacks on his instrument like a good baseball hurler varies his pitches. Now he sideslips, now he chops up the theme like ice. He engages in odd-interval Graduate Education Degree Be a Teacher or School Admin! Azusa offers 26 grad degrees in Education www.APU.edu arpeggios, controlled over-blowing and harmonics. More to the point, he knows when to pitch which pitch. This is never a matter of showing off effects, but a seamless concatenation of approaches that approximate, in a new context, Ali's multi-directionality. Lawrence is another Coltrane disciple, but not just another one—an outstanding one. Music Recording Career Launch Your Music Production & Recording Career - Get Free Info! www.Expression.edu Tracks and Personnel Live at the Woodstock Playhouse 1965 Tracks: Tree Theme II; Cluster Quartet II; Like It Is. Personnel: Burton Greene: piano; Rashied Ali: drums; Marion Brown: alto saxophone; Reggie Johnson: bass. Why Not? Make 3D Animation Learn How to Make Hollywood Style 3D Animation at LA Film School. www.LAFilm.edu Jazz Radio Download Enhanced Internet Explorer 9 with Bing and MSN. www.ie9enhanced.com Tracks: La Sorrella; Fortunato; Why Not?; Homecoming. Personnel: Marion Brown: alto saxophone; Stanley Cowell: piano; Norris "Sirone" Jones: bass; Rashied Ali: drums. Eddie Jefferson at Ali's Alley Tracks: Now's the Time; Pennies from Heaven; So What; Bless My Soul; Keep Walkin'; Trane's Blues; A Night in Tunisia; Body and Soul; Billie's Bounce; Moody's Mood for Love. Personnel: Rashied Ali: drums; Eddie Jefferson: voice; Jimmy Vass: saxophone; Marvin Blackman: saxophone; Marsha Frazier: piano; Benny Wilson: bass. Configurations—The Music of John Coltrane Tracks: Configuration; Stellar Regions; Leo; Iris; Seraphic Light; Tranesonic; Jimmy's Mode; Sun Star; Stellar Regions. Personnel: Rashied Ali: drums; Louie Belogenis: saxophone; Allan Chase: saxophone; Greg Murphy: piano; Wilbur Morris: bass; Joe Gallant: bass (track 9 only). Mystic Journey Tracks: Mystic Journey; Summer Solstice; Quest; Walk Spirit, Talk Sprit; Say It OVer Again; Adrees; Journey's End; Starting Point. Personnel: Azar Lawrence: tenor and soprano saxophones; Eddie Henderson: trumpet and flugelhorn; Gerald Hayes: alto saxophone; Benito Gonzalez: piano; Essiet Essiet: bass; Rashied Ali: drums. Rashied Ali at All About Jazz | More Links... The Art Institutes Design, Media Arts, Fashion, & Culinary Programs - Get Info Today! www.artinstitutes.edu New Music [Jazz] for The Week of 5/3/2010 Greetings’ fellow jazz enthusiasts, May arrives just in time with the distinctive and insinuating sounds, melodies, rhythms & dexterous flavors of jazz to quench your ongoing thirst for new music. As always, it’s an honor to compile an extraordinary complex yet diverse mix of New Jazz Releases for you each week. The multi-facet saxophonist Azar Lawrence is here with his stellar new offering titled: “Mystic Journey ” which is our Featured Album of the Week ! Vocal stylists Robin McKelle & Nikki Yanofsky are in the mix with their latest projects “Mess Around” and “Nikki.” If that’s not enough, check out the Dutch NuJazz Movement’s latest “What’s Nu?” along with trombonist Alan Ferber’s experimental project “Music for Nonet & Strings : Chamber Songs” … all these titles and more are just a click away to discover fresh and stimulating music! Featured Album of the Week Azar Lawrence ::|:: Mystic Journey – [Furthermore Recordings, 2010 ] The re-emergence of saxophonist Azar Lawrence has been one of the most exciting things and perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the past five years on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Those who have experienced Azar live in the past year can bear witness to a real life prodigal son story. No doubt remains that he is here to reclaim his title as heir to the throne of the John Coltrane legacy. A child prodigy, Azar played in the shadows and under the watchful eyes of giants. At 21, he was hired by Miles Davis to perform and record at Carnegie Hall in what would become the 1974 underground Azar Lawrence - Mystic Journey classic, Dark Magus. In his twenties, he was taken in by Coltrane acolytes McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones and absorbed all they had to teach. He appeared on several of Tyner’s classic ’70s recordings and was signed by the Prestige label, where he recorded three albums as a leader. Below we have list of this weeks latest jazz releases , also while you’re here check out Amazon.com for and extended lists of imports, vinyl and re-issues. New Music Releases -))- Sinatra/Jobim: The Complete Reprise Recordings by Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim [Remastered] -))- Nikki by Nikki Yanofsky -))- Top Of The World: Best Of by George Benson Seattle Traffic Seattle Weather Mobile Register Sign In Wednesday, April 13, 2011 seattlepi.com HOME LOCAL Movie Showtimes U.S./WORLD BUSINESS What's Happening SPORTS Movies TV Web Search by YAHOO! A&E LIFE TV Listings COMICS Music PHOTOS Restaurants 46°F Businesses BLOGS Books CLASSIFIEDS Video Games Music Review: Azar Lawrence - Mystic Journey SHOPPING Theater/Arts REAL ESTATE Celebrities Seattle, WA Light Rain INDEX A&E Wire FOLLOW US: By GREG BARBRICK, BLOGCRITICS.ORG Published 10:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, 2010 Azar Lawrence has a number of things in common with 0 his idol John Coltrane. Like 'Trane, he plays tenor tweets Larger | Smaller saxophone, and first came to prominence as a member of Share tweet Printable Version Miles Davis' group. Azar’s first appearance with Miles Email This was on the landmark Dark Magus album. As the title Font implies, this was one of Miles' heaviest recordings, and Azar's contribution is significant. After putting his time in with Davis, Azar worked with a number of other artists, including Coltrane alumnus McCoy Tyner. Comments (0) Music Galleries Displaying 1-3 of 8 0 Rashied Ali will probably be best remembered as the drummer in John Coltrane's final group. His playing on such jaw-dropping pieces as the hour-long version of "My Favorite Things" from Live In Japan is simply extraordinary. So it was a real thrill for me to discover that Rashied's final recordings were made with Azar, and have now been issued as Mystic Journey. The set opens up with the title song, an appropriately free extravaganza. Azar's horn strikes me as a little closer to that of Pharoah Sanders than John Coltrane, which is all to the good. Pianist Benito Gonzalez begins his solo in a fairly traditional manner, then takes a suitably abstract turn to wrap it up. In addition to the tenor sax of Azar, the group’s horns consist of the alto sax of Gerald Hayes, and the trumpet of Eddie Henderson. The three converge to close out the song with a furious blowing session, reminiscent of some of Ascension's wilder moments. With the personnel Lawrence assembled, I fully expected Mystic Journey to be a completely free album. So it was a bit of a surprise to hear the group's version of the beautiful ballad "Say It Over Again." The tune evokes the feeling of a late night in a smoke filled lounge about fifty years ago. Azar's sax floats over the top of the understated bass, drum and piano accompaniment and needs no pyrotechnics to prove his point. Juanes perform in Seattle Grammys 2011: Bestdressed Grammys 2011: Worstdressed Most Read | Most Commented 1. Magnolia woman tried to bilk 12 would-be renters, police claim 2. Getting arrested at the gov.'s office -- the why 3. Body found on Oregon beach was tsunami victim (KOMO) 4. Is it OK to break up with an old friend over ethics? 5. Fourth suspect charged in ID food stamp scheme 6. Indoor Football League: Kent team changes name, owners and coach in middle of season 7. Everett man arrested for alleged Bosnian war crimes LATEST MUSIC HEADLINES Nashville radio tower gets historic designation 11:31 a.m. NY case dismissed against Lou Reed manager 08:37 a.m. On or off-camera, the Braxton sisters are real 05:06 a.m. The standout for me has to be the McCoy Tyner composition "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit." The entire group gets a chance to shine on this ten-minute cut, and everyone is playing at peak levels. Simon goes back to way old methods for new disc 05:02 a.m. Israeli PM's meeting with Bieber called off 03:24 a.m. The last track on Mystic Journey is "Starting Point," written by Rashied Ali. The tension between the more traditional jazz sounds, and Ali's free roots are fully played out here, to great effect. Azar's sax, and Henderson's trumpet solos are definate high points, but the drumming of Rashied Ali is what this tune is all about. He had certainly not lost any of his fire behind the kit. Mystic Journey is a great reminder of one of the most explosive eras in the history of jazz. But there is much more to it than just being a clinic on free music, the playing of the group is as tight as it gets, and there is a real stylistic variety present. It is one of the better jazz releases I have heard so far this year. View the original article on blogcritics.org Printable Version Email This Share 0 0 tweet Comments Add Your Comment New to the site? Already a member? To use commenting, you need to sign up. Please log in. Register (Forgot Password?) Email Password Remember Me Sign In SHOCKING:$9 Car Insurance Auto Insurers are SCARED you will learn this secret. Cancer Treatment Centers CTCA Is Recognized For The Best In Cancer Care. "Weird Fruit Burns Fat" Reporter Drops 32 Pounds in 28 Days with This Strange www.LifestyleJournal.com www.CancerCenter.com www.5NewsTV.com Ads by Yahoo! Reader Services: My account | Mobile | RSS feeds | Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | E-mail newsletters | Corrections | Site index Company Info: Advertise online | Contact us | Send us tips | Job openings | About the P-I | Hearst Corp. | Terms of use | Privacy policy | About our ads Advertising Services: SEO by LocalEdge | PPC Management by Metrix4Media Send comments to [email protected] © 2011 Hearst Communications Inc. Straight No Chaser - A Jazz Show A blog with interviews, reviews, features and podcasts on jazz of the past, present and future. Mon, 2 August 2010 Podcast 188 - Azar Lawrence's Mystic Journeys Categories Few jazz musicians have the varied resume of Azar Lawrence. Since he burst on the scene in the early 1970’s as a sideman for artists as varied as Frank Zappa and McCoy Tyner, his Coltrane-esque sax qualities have been in great demand. He faced off with David Liebman on Miles Davis’ fascinating (if obtuse) Dark Magus live album, and with Woody Shaw on the classic Moontrane album. He collaborated with seminal seventies soul starts like Maurice White and Earth, Wind & Fire, Eric Burdon in the original War, Marvin Gaye. and the influential Watts 103rd Street Band. His releases as a bandleader were that rare combination of spiritual searching and melodic control. After a lengthy time away from recording as a jazz leader, Lawrence has returned with a vengeance, releasing two solid CDs in just over a year. The latest of these two, Mystic Journey, is a diverse album, not only a revisiting of some of his earlier career highlights, but a presentation of new material worthy of his best work more than thirty-five years ago. Sadly, the CD also represents the final work of the legendary percussionist Rashid Ali, who passed away earlier this year. Click here to listen to Podcast 188, a conversation with Azar Lawrence, along with musical selections including: Azar Lawrence – “Summer Solstice” from Mystic Journey. This was the title track for Azar’s second solo album, here redone by the band of Azar on sax, Dr. Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Benito Gonzalez on piano, Essiet Essiet on bass and Rashid Ali on drums/ Ali, who rose to fame for his work with John Coltrane, passed away shortly after these sessions. Azar Lawrence – “Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit” from Mystic Journey. Written by McCoy Tyner for the Montreux concert performance that ended up as his Enlightenment album in 1973, the original version was a twenty-four minute podcasts general Syndication Keyword Search Search April 2011 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Archives 2011 November October July April March February January 2010 December November October September August July mindbender. Azar revisits and shortens this take without losing its spirit and drive. Azar Lawrence – Title Track from Bridge Into the New Age. Azar and Woody Shaw were the stars of Azar’s first album as a bandleader, recorded in 1974. In addition to the pair on saxophone and trumpet, the band was Woody Murray on vibes, Jean Carn on vocals, Clint Houston on bass, Billy Hart on drums and Guilherme Franco and Ken Nash on percussion. Earth, Wind & Fire – “Spread Your Love” from Powerlight. Maurice White was introduced to Azar and they hit it off immediately, leading Azar to offer him two or three songs that ended up on the Powerlight album in 1983. Woody Shaw – Title Track from The Moontrane. One of Shaw’s great sessions was held in New York from December 11-18, 1974. The resulting album, The Moontrane, moved Shaw to the top of the list of post-bop trumpeters in the business. The band is now acknowledged as a group of true all-stars: Shaw on trumpet, Azar on sax, Steve Turre on trombone, Onaie Allen Gumbs on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. Miles Davis – “Tatu, Pt. 2” from Dark Magus. Azar and David Liebman were handling saxophone duties in one of the densest, heaviest jazz recordings ever made. Miles was playing mostly organ by this time, and three electric guitarists – Pete Cosey, Reggie Lucas and Dominique Gaumont – were the center of the band’s sound. Michael Henderson plays bass, Al Foster is on drums and Mtume on percussion. Direct download: Podcast_188_- _Azar_Lawrences_Mystic_Journeys.mp3 Category:podcasts - - posted at: 4:00 AM July June May April March February January 2009 December November October September August July June May April February January 2008 December November September August July June May April March February January 2007 September August July April March February January 2006 December November October September August July June May April March February 2005 May An Intense Homage To Coltrane - Courant.com Hello Visitor LOGIN OR REGISTER 7/25/09 12:27 PM JOBS CARS APARTMENTS REAL ESTATE MERCHANDISE JUL 85° F HOME NEWS EVENTS SEARCH HOT TOPICS TOWNS SPORTS RESTAURANTS MOVIES HUSKIES MUSIC Taste Of Hartford 2009 CT Celebs Michael Jackson Dies At 50 MONEY THEATER TV LIFE + FAMILY MUSEUMS Home > Things To Do > Music Reviews HOME DELIVERY OBITUARIES 25 THINGS TO DO ATTRACTIONS Java: Connecticut's Movers And Shakers E-COURANT OPINION BARS & CLUBS SHOPPING Search Go! OUTDOORS 'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince' Text size MUSIC REVIEW An Intense Homage To Coltrane By CHUCK OBUCHOWSKI Special to The Courant July 21, 2009 E-mail Print Share Vote HARTFORD - — The livin' was easy in Bushnell Park Sunday as the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz wound down with lots of funky grooves and laid back covers of old pop hits. Frisbees sailed past food vendors as thousands enjoyed free music and camaraderie under glorious blue skies. Topics Festive Event Music Theater Music See more topics » Ads by Google Free Jazz CDs Join Jazz Heritage Society and get 5 Free CDs now! www.jazzheritage.com Ontario Arts & Culture Jazz Festivals and Great Theatre Plan Your Cultured Getaway Now distinctivegetaways.ca Somewhere between "Moondance" and "Sweetest Taboo," the volcanic force of a John Coltrane composition exploded into the summer air, rendering everything else insignificant. Many in the audience were unprepared for the intensity of this reverent Coltrane homage, performed by Azar Lawrence's quartet. The 55-year-old saxophonist assembled a formidable quartet for this concert, anchored by the impassioned drumming of Billy Hart. Hartfordite Nat Reeves played bass, and Benito Gonzalez was on piano. As a young man, Lawrence apprenticed with Coltrane's favorite pianist, McCoy Tyner; Lawrence demonstrated Sunday how well he's learned to apply Coltrane's advanced techniques to his own improvisational directions. Lawrence had all but disappeared from the jazz scene for decades; his recent re-emergence finds him in outstanding musical form. After beginning with inspired takes on "Afro Blue" and "Lonnie's Lament," the quartet attempted something truly audacious. Without a word of introduction, Lawrence launched into the tenor saxophone incantation of "Acknowledgment" from Coltrane's beloved "A Love Supreme" suite. The quartet dove into the intricacies of this 1964 musical milestone over the next 40 minutes, complete with solo bass and drum transitions. Lawrence maintained the four-part structure of the original, while allowing for ample new creation from each of his band members throughout. Those who listened carefully were rewarded with an unforgettable sonic experience. Lawrence closed his set with a swirling soprano sojourn through one of Coltrane's favorite vehicles for extended improvisation: Rodgers & Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things." Vocalist Cynthia Holiday also delivered a version of "My Favorite Things," but hers gave a sultry, soulful twist to the "Sound of Music" classic. The New Jersey native christened the main pavilion Sunday afternoon after several locally based ensembles had warmed up the crowd with music on the smaller Friends of the Festival stage. She may have been unfamiliar to the audience, but Holiday quickly won over the crowd with her blues-soaked swing and charming banter. Her repertoire was diverse, ranging from solid R&B fare such as "What You Won't Do for Love" to the simmering gospel groove of "Walk With Me Lord." Holiday's backup band, led by Hammond B3 organist Radam Schwartz, provided just the right balance of looseness and precision. Julius Tolentino's alto and tenor saxophone solos were especially noteworthy. Tolentino is no stranger to Hartford, having graduated from the Hartt School of Music at The University of Hartford in http://www.courant.com/entertainment/music-reviews/hc-jazzfestrev.art.artjul21,0,3499134.story Page 1 of 2 One Sheet JazzWeek Jazz Chart—July 5, 2010 TW LW 2W Artist 1 37 — JASON MORAN Ten (Blue Note) 2 11 8 BILL CHARLAP & RENEE ROSNES Double Portrait (Blue Note) 3 1 3 DR. LONNIE SMITH Spiral (Palmetto) 4 3 4 JOE CHAMBERS Horace To Max (Savant) 5 16 23 YOTAM Resonance (JLP) 6 3 6 BRAD MEHLDAU Highway Rider (Nonesuch) 7 5 5 ONE FOR ALL Incorrigible (JLP) 8 6 1 RAY VEGA & THOMAS MARRIOTT East-West Trumpet Summit (Origin) 9 2 7 KEITH JARRETT & CHARLIE HADEN Jasmine (ECM) 10 9 2 TROMBONE SHORTY Backatown (Verve Forecast) 11 9 — STANLEY CLARKE Stanley Clarke Band (Heads Up) 12 — — VIOLIN JAZZ The Music Of Eddie South (Dorian) 13 33 — CURTIS FULLER I Will Tell Her (Capri) 14 8 11 TOM HARRELL Roman Nights (HighNote) 15 19 14 AZAR LAWRENCE Mystic Journey (Furthermore) 16 12 8 NNENNA FREELON Homefree (Concord) 17 15 12 PHAREZ WHITTED Transient Journey (Owl) 18 18 17 JACKY TERRASSON Push (Concord) 19 13 21 TIA FULLER Decisive Steps (Mack Avenue) 20 24 20 PAUL CARR Straight Ahead Soul (PCJ) 20 38 — GREGORY PORTER Water (Motema) TW LW Move Add Rpts Peak Wks Buy 380 76 +304 21 60 1 2 Buy 345 133 +212 13 63 2 4 Buy 238 229 +9 2 60 1 6 Buy 189 169 +20 4 50 1 7 Buy 185 105 Buy 168 169 +80 -1 7 1 51 46 5 4 3 13 Buy 165 163 +2 0 43 1 9 Buy 164 160 +4 2 52 1 6 Buy 158 186 -28 1 51 2 6 Buy 152 134 +18 2 57 2 11 Buy 150 134 +16 19 58 9 2 Buy 147 28 +119 27 45 12 1 Buy 145 79 +66 20 45 13 2 Buy 129 135 -6 1 36 Buy 126 100 +26 3 43 Buy 125 128 -3 3 44 2 10 Buy 123 110 +13 1 39 7 11 Buy 112 101 +11 0 41 12 10 Buy 109 127 -18 1 31 1 16 Buy 107 91 +16 2 32 20 5 Buy 107 75 +32 4 31 20 2 1 12 14 4
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