Azar Lawrence, "The Seeker"

[Mark Stryker]

Really enjoyed my first pass at Azar Lawrence's "The Seeker" on Sunnyside, recorded live at the Jazz Standard in Dec. 2011 with Nicholas Payton, Benito Gonzalez, Essiet Essiet and Jeff Watts. The modal universe! Vamps, etc. The spirit of Trane and '70s McCoy but it doesn't sound like a museum. Cats sound fiery, inspired, in the moment. Also amused by the 70s throwback tune titles: "Lost Tribes of Lemuria," "Venus Rising," "Rain Ballad," "Spirit Night." I feel my consciousness rising.

[AllenLowe]

believe it or not a local restaurant is bringing him into Portland some time soon; too expensive for me, though.

[Lazaro Vega]

Azar's blowin' up on the new Franklin Kiermyer album "Further."

[felser]

I've been a fan since I first heard him on McCoy Tyner's Enlightenment Montreux set. Was thrilled to see him resurface playing so strongly.

[relyles]

Lawrence is scheduled to be the final performer in the three day Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz in July. In a festival where the other two artists on the same day are Sherry Winston and Javon Jackson, and the big day Saturday of the festival is headlined by "Jazz All Stars - Marion Meadows, Brian Simpson & Kim Waters", I will be looking forward to spending an evening in the park with Mr. Lawrence. He previously appeared at the festival in 2009 and it was a great performance.

Edited June 11, 2014 by relyles

[AllenLowe]

funny story, proves I'm getting old - about a year ago I was at a conference in NYC and I met a guy whose late father was a well-known saxophonist and I said, sure, I saw your dad play years ago; the guy's last name was Lawrence, and we were talking for about 10 minutes before I realized he was ARNIE Lawrence's kid, not Azar; though I was thinking of Arnie, I kept remembering his name as Azar, and this guy got really annoyed instead of amused.

I didn't mean any offense, and I was pretty close, I thought, and at least I was thinking of the right guy.

Edited June 12, 2014 by AllenLowe