AZAR LAWRENCE
Saxophonist Azar Lawrence approaches music with spiritual reverence. To him, 'music is of a pure nature all around us and within us' throughout the universe, every atom everywhere produces a tone whether we can hear it or not' musicians dedicate our lives to a certain daily practice in order to try to produce the purest vibration tones.'
Over the course of his career, which began in his teens, Lawrence has performed with such mainstays as McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Frank Zappa, Miles Davis, and Earth, Wind & Fire. With his Quintet, performing tonight, Lawrence focuses on powerful original music composed by himself.
About Azar Lawrence; Ben Ratliff of the New York Times said, 'He seems in possession of a great, almost ecstatic power, but he cares about songs, and their shape and melody always pulled him back to earth. He controlled several mixtures of things that could seem like opposites: easy, melodic swing and bottom-line seriousness; short-line form and long-line expressiveness.' New York Times, June 2014.
Blowing stronger than ever, and still on the circuit; Child prodigy Azar Lawrence has confirmed his longstanding reputation as one of the 21st century's greatest exponents of the John Coltrane legacy. As one of the best to blend the elements of earth and the spirit through music; Azar Lawrence stands out as a distinctive instrumentalist with his searing, passionate saxophone sound and brilliant compositional style.
NOLAN SHAHEED
Nolan Shaheed began his musical career in 1974, rising to be a top studio musician. He was musical director for Marvin Gaye, lead trumpet with Count Basie and has an extensive resume of other acts he has worked with including: Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Phil Collins, Anita Baker, Carole King, Tom Waits, John Handy, David Byrne, Raymond Harry Brown, Freddie Hubbard and Niki Nana. Trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, 64, has proven to be one of that band's great assets. As a lead player and soloist, Shaheed has been a recording session ace, and has played with the Count Basie Orchestra and the touring bands of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.
THEO SAUNDERS
A native New Yorker, has lived in California since 1985, but his musical career remains international in scope. Saunders' musical odyssey has taken him to four continents and more than twenty countries.Growing up in NYC, he played with Pharoah Sanders in the 1960s, and in 1971 (at age 24), at the Village Vanguard with the likes of Jimmy Garrison and Jack DeJohnette in a group led by guitarist Sonny Greenwich. Appearing on more than 40 recordings as a sideman, he has accompanied everyone from Sonny Fortune and Charles Lloyd to Freddie Hubbard and Ray Mantilla, and has six recordings as a leader.
EDWIN LIVINGSTON
Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Edwin Livingston was exposed to music early on. After receiving his B.M. in music performance he relocated several times in pursuit of new musical terrain. In his various travels he has played and recorded with many notable artists and masters. Livingston has performed and/or recorded with: Elvin Jones, Ellis, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis, The Headhunters, Los Hombres Calientes (Grammy nominated Latin Jazz album), Bill Summers, Munyungo Jackson, Donald Harrison, Jr., Alvin Batiste, Ronnie Laws, Debra Laws Tootie Heath, Barbara Morrison, Queen Latifah, Orchestra(Raphael Saadiq, Justin Timberlake, Will.I.Am, Brian McKnight, Mary J Blige, Aretha Franklin), Bob Mintzer, Yellowjackets, Natalie Cole and many others. In addition to a full playing, touring, and recording career he is also on the faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music, teaching bass in the jazz studies department.
ROY MCCURDY
Roy McCurdy will probably always be best-known for his important contributions to Cannonball Adderley's Quintet (1965-1975), but he has been a tasteful and stimulating participant in many other sessions through the years. In 1960 he joined the Art Farmer Benny Golson Jazztet and remained for two years. Early on, he worked with Chuck and Gap Mangione in the Jazz Brothers (1960-1961). McCurdy also gained recognition with Sonny Rollins before joining Adderley. After Adderley''s death, McCurdy moved to the Los Angeles area, where he has played and recorded with the top local musicians ever since.
McCurdy counts among his influences Louie Bellson, Shelly Manne, Sam Woodyard, Buddy Rich, 'Papa' Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones and the bands of Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford and Lionel Hampton. He' has performed on between 150 and 200 recordings. The list of greats that McCurdy has played with includes Count Basie, Wes Montgomery, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, Herbie Hancock, Milt Jackson, Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell. Roy has also played with Art Pepper, John Heard, Ron McCurdy, Jackie Ryan, Joe Zawinal, Blood, Sweat and Tears, etc.
Press: nytimes.com/2014/06/28/arts/music/azar-lawrence-quintet-focuses-on-the-seeker.html?_r=0
Hi Res Photo: azarlawrence.com/photos/Zar8-pk.jpg
Event Flyer: azarlawrence.com/posters/seabird_oct1_web.jpg
Facebook Event: facebook.com/events/1576275189345095/
Websites:
azarlawrence.com
edwinlivingston.com
theosaunders.com
music.usc.edu/roy-mccurdy
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