I'm delighted to say that Azar Lawrence is returning to DalyJazz. When he's not playing New York clubs like Carnegie Hall these days on my 1964 Selmer, he's busy gigging at humble but enthusiastic venues like this one.
Azar enjoyed a musical childhood and began playing drums at the age of five. He moved on to violin and piano under the direction of his mother Ima Lawrence. Ima, a gifted musician and teacher from whom Azar received his acute flair for all things music, provided a beginning that has shaped many successful musicians.
In the early 70s Azar Lawrence joined McCoy Tyner while just a teenager, touring and recording on classic McCoy albums like Atlantis (live at the Keystone Korner, Todd Barkan's club), Enlightenment, and Sama Layuca. He toured with Elvin Jones during this period, too. Azar can be heard on other classic jazz albums of the 1970s including Woody Shaw's Moontrane, and Miles Davis' Dark Magus.
Azar released three albums on Prestige before the age of twenty-five: Bridge Into the New Age, People Moving People, and Summer Solstice.
During the eighties he collaborated with Earth Wind & Fire’s leader Maurice White. He wrote and performed for Earth Wind & Fire on one of their highly acclaimed releases Powerlight. Azar can be heard on popular recordings from the late Frank Zappa’s music to Busta Rhymes.
The 2000s found Azar solidly back in the jazz mainstream. Azar's most recent recording (2010) Mystic Journey features Benito Gonzalez (piano), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Essiet Essiet (bass), and the late Rashied Ali on drums.
Azar Lawrence is often compared to John Coltrane for his sound and harmonic approach. Asked “so what do you think about critics and reviewers that frequently compare you to Trane?” Azar said, “It’s an honor.”
“I mean, sometimes those comparisons are made as more of a critique, you know…” I offered. Azar replied, “It’s still an honor. I never set out to sound like Trane. I never sat down and transcribed his solos or practiced licks or anything like that. Everyone has sound, a feeling. Mine is what it is. McCoy did tell me once that he thought John and I felt the music the same way.”
You can read the full interview here.
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