Azar Lawrence


Azar Lawrence is an American jazz saxophonist, known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw.

Career

Lawrence released Summer Solstice on Prestige Records in 1975, produced by Orrin Keepnews. It featured Raul de Souza, Gerald Hayes, Amaury Tristão, Dom Salvador, Ron Carter, Guilherme Franco on the songs "Novo Ano" and "Highway" which were composed by Amaury Tristão, and Lawrence, Souza, Albert Dailey, Carter and Billy Hart on all other selections.
Bridge Into The New Age featured Jean Carn, Woody Shaw, Ray Straughter, Woody Murray, Clint Houston, Billy Hart, Guillerme Franco, Julian Priester, Hadley Caliman, Black Arthur, Joe Bonner, John Heard, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Mtume and Kenneth Nash.
People Moving featured Patrice Rushen, Jerry Peters, Michael Stanton, John Rowin, Lee Ritenour, Paul Jackson, Jr., Harvey Mason, Ernest Straughter.
Musician and screenwriter Herbert Baker taught music and mentored Lawrence, who recalled Baker as "one of the greatest pianists who ever lived."

Discography

As leader

  • 1974: Bridge into the New Age
  • 1975: Summer Solstice
  • 1976: People Moving
  • 1985: Shadow Dancing
  • 2007: Legacy & Music of John Coltrane - with Edwin Bayard
  • 2008: Prayer For My Ancestors - with Nate Morgan
  • 2009: Speak the Word - with Nate Morgan
  • 2010: Mystic Journey - with Eddie Henderson
  • 2014: The Seeker -with Nicholas Payton
  • 2015: Conduit - with Al McLean
  • 2016: Frontiers - with Al McLean
  • 2018: Elementals
  • 2022: ''New Sky''

    As sideman

With Mulatu Astatke
  • Timeless
With Henry Butler
  • Fivin' Around
With Miles Davis
With Henry Franklin
  • If We Should Meet Again
  • O, What A Beautiful Morning!
  • Home Cookin
With Gene Harris
With Freddie Hubbard
  • Bundle of Joy
With Elvin Jones
  • New Agenda
With Franklin Kiermyer
  • Further
With Woody Shaw
  • The Moontrane
With The 360 Degree Music Experience
  • In: Sanity
With McCoy Tyner
  • Enlightenment
  • Sama Layuca
  • Atlantis
With Harry Whitaker
  • Black Renaissance
With Eden Atwood'
  • ''Like Someone in Love''