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Azar Lawence offers a Birthday Tribute to Coltrane, March 31st at Cotton Club West in Long Beach |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Thursday, 22 March 2007 |
 Azar Lawrence © LeRoy Downs, TheJazzcat.net
Clarion Jazz saxophonist and composer Azar Lawrence, who is an alumnus of both McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones groups, with his quartet will celebrate the legacy of John Coltrane and his music on the 81st anniversary of his birth on Saturday, March 31st at Cotton Club West in Long Beach, California. Mr. Lawrence will be joined by Nate Morgan on piano, Jeff Littleton on bass and Fritz Wise on drums.
Azar's performance of such classic Coltrane compositions as "A Love Supreme", "Crescent", "Chim Chim Cheree", "Impressions", "My Favorite Things", "My One and Only Love" and "Wise One" has the critics saying that after a sabbatical Azar is playing with a renewed vengeance and energy similar to what was manifested the unpredictable and searching solos of John Coltrane.
Born in 1952, Lawrence is an artist with a style of his own. He has performed and recorded several impressive albums with legendary Coltrane pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones. Lawrence toured Europe with Clark Terry. He recorded with Miles Davis on his classic Dark Mangus: Live At Carnegie Hall, Earth, Wind and Fire's Grammy award nominated Powerlight and Marvin Gaye's Grammy award winning Here My Dear. Azar Lawrence also recorded three albums as a leader for Prestige.
The solid quartet for this engagement will feature Azar Lawrence on soprano and tenor saxophones leading the group. The group will also feature pianist Nate Morgan who has played and recorded with Gary Bartz, Curtis Fuller and Ronnie Law. Jeff Littleton who has played and recorded with Charles McPherson, Herbie Hancock and Nancy Wilson will play bass. And Fritz Wise who has played with Pharoah Sanders will play the drums.
For additional information contact Cotton Club West at (310) 654.1116 or visit www.cottonclubwest.com. For tickets visit www.groovetickets.com. |
Friday, 04 July 2008
