Azar Lawrence – People Moving (1976/2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 38:28 minutes | 1,48 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings
Azar Lawrence’s third solo album People Moving was released in 1976 on Prestige Records. The album features Lawrence on tenor, alto and soprano saxophone alongside a group of incredible musicians including Patrice Rushen on electric piano and vocals, Harvey Mason on drums, and Mtume on percussion. Dedicated to the great Charles Stepney, People Moving showcases Lawrence’s versatility as a saxophonist and composer, blending elements of funk, soul, and jazz into a cohesive and engaging musical experience. The album’s title track, “People Moving,” is a funky, up-tempo groove led by Lawrence’s soulful saxophone playing and Jerry Peters’ killer horn arrangement. Notably, this was Skip Scarborough’s first time producing a full album. He would go on to produce for a number of artists including Bobbi Humphery, Con Funk Shun, Phyllis Hyman and more. – Ally
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Azar Lawrence – Summer Solstice (Remastered) (1975/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 41:00 minutes | 1,77 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings
A beautiful album of spiritual soul and Brazilian influenced jazz from Azar Lawrence – and a pretty rare one we’re thrilled to have! Lawrence is a stellar sax player with a sound that’s a bit like Gary Bartz, which means that he fits in perfectly with the Fantasy-era Prestige Records sound – but the sounds on this set are uncommonly rich and globally influenced. The set’s predominantly acoustic, with lots of modal grooves in kind of a Strata East vein – and angular post-Coltrane playing that’s very similar to Bartz’s work on the Libra album from his early days. Players include Raul De Souza on trombone, Ron Carter on bass, Billy Hart on drums, Dom Salvador, who is really allowed to shine on piano on a few tracks, and drummer & percussionist Guilherme Franco, who brings a world of wonderful percussion on a couple of numbers.
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Azar Lawrence – Shadow Dancing (1985/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 36:38 minutes | 444 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Light In The Attic Records
Saxophonist Azar Lawrence (born 1952) needs little introduction, as a young musical prodigy he was lovingly tutored by his mother, who taught music and led their church choir. At age 5, he played violin in the Los Angeles Junior Symphony, then viola, but his ears were turned to the saxophone at age 13. Azar spent his teen years immersed in jazz at the home of his best friend, none other than the late Reggie Golson, son of the great composer/arranger/saxophonist, Bennie Golson. From then on it was jazz, jazz and more jazz!
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Azar Lawrence – Elementals (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:03:14 minutes | 730 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © HighNote Records
‘Elementals’ is an intensely powerful and swinging recording from saxophonist and composer Azar Lawrence.
It will come as no surprise to fans of Azar Lawrence that his life’s work is to bridge the gap between his listeners and the Elementals (the spiritual essences of the four elements earth, air, fire and water). For over four decades he has unstintingly explored music as a healing force, and the mystical connections between past and future, myth and fact, the physical world and that which is beyond. Lawrence hopes that in a holistic sense, ‘Elementals’ encourages a spiritual awakening.
“All of this music is healing music; that’s our whole concept is to heal and uplift,” he explains. “If it’s delivered and received on the right level, it will raise our own vibrations and bring us in touch with those higher spirits that respond when the music is pure with love and joy.”
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Azar Lawrence – Bridge Into The New Age (1974/2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 37:45 minutes | 1,24 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Concord Records
By the time Azar Lawrence released Bridge Into the New Age in 1974—his first recording as a bandleader—he had already built himself an enviable reputation as a saxophone player alongside the likes of McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. Lawrence’s vigorous and emotionally multifaceted playing shines on this album which was a truly forward-looking release in the mid-1970s, presented here as a remastered hi-res release to be enjoyed anew.
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