Various Artists -][- BGP Presents Jazz Funk [BGP | Beat Goes Public, 2012]

Tags

African American, Azar Lawrence, Blackbyrds, Charles Earland, Funk, Jay Hoggard, Jazz, Patrice Rushen, Stanley Cowell

VA, BGP Presents Jazz Funk (Import)

Various Artists -][- BGP Presents Jazz Funk [BGP | Beat Goes Public, 2012]

As the 1970s moved into the 80s, jazz funk was the UK club music of choice. It was a catch-all term that covered funk-flavored jazz, boogie soul and a healthy dose of latin flavors. Fantasy Records were one of the most important players and their labels provided a steady stream of dance-floor winners across all of these styles. In this CD we tell the history of the music through the records that they released.

THE COOKERS Celebrate The Release Of CAST THE FIRST STONE (Plus Loin)

Tags

Azar Lawrence, Billy Harper, Billy Hart, Cecil McBee, Craig Handy, David Weiss, Eddie Henderson, George Cables, Jazz, The Cookers

THE COOKERS Celebrate The Release Of
CAST THE FIRST STONE (Plus Loin), Hard-Hitting Follow-Up to Acclaimed WARRIORS On April 12, 2011

@ The Iridum – May 14 & 15!
1650 Broadway, NYC (at 51st Street), Tel 212 582 2121, Showtime is 9:00 PM, tkts are $30
http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com

The Cookers - Cast The First Stone

Billy Harper (Tenor Sax), Eddie Henderson (Trumpet), David Weiss (Trumpet), Craig Handy (Alto Sax), George Cables (Piano), Cecil McBee (Bass), Billy Hart (Drums) & Special guest Azar Lawrence (Tenor & Soprano Sax)

Experience counts, especially in jazz. The more time musicians spend interpreting tunes and interacting with others, the more articulation an audience can expect. You can hear the fruits of such work in the expressive language the Cookers bring to the material on Cast the First Stone. Here’s a group of veteran improvisers approaching their current songbook with both ardor and eloquence.

Billy Harper, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, and Billy Hart all came up in the heady era of the mid ’60s. It was a period that found the dimensions of hard bop morphing from their original designs, and each these guys helped facilitate the process. David Weiss and Craig Handy, from a more recent generation and the youngest members of the band, are experts in this forthright lingo as well. Their feisty solos parallel those of their elders. Together, the septet throws a mighty punch.

THE COOKERS Release CAST THE FIRST STONE (Plus Loin), Hard-Hitting Follow-Up to Acclaimed WARRIORS On April 12, 2011

Tags

Azar Lawrence, Billy Harper, Billy Hart, Cecil McBee, Craig Handy, David Weiss, Eddie Henderson, George Cables

The Cookers CD Release Celebration
May 14 & 15 @ The Iridium, NYC!
http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com

Cast The First Stone Features: Billy Harper (Tenor Sax), Eddie Henderson (Trumpet), David Weiss (Trumpet), Craig Handy (Alto Sax, trks 1-5), George Cables (Piano), Cecil McBee (Bass), Billy Hart (Drums) & Special guest Azar Lawrence (Tenor Sax, trks 4, 6 & 7, Soprano Sax, trk 3)

The Cookers - Cast The First Stone

Experience counts, especially in jazz. The more time musicians spend interpreting tunes and interacting with others, the more articulation an audience can expect. You can hear the fruits of such work in the expressive language the Cookers bring to the material on Cast the First Stone. Here’s a group of veteran improvisers approaching their current songbook with both ardor and eloquence.

Billy Harper, Cecil McBee, George Cables, Eddie Henderson, and Billy Hart all came up in the heady era of the mid ’60s. It was a period that found the dimensions of hard bop morphing from their original designs, and each these guys helped facilitate the process. David Weiss and Craig Handy, from a more recent generation and the youngest members of the band, are experts in this forthright lingo as well. Their feisty solos parallel those of their elders. Together, the septet throws a mighty punch.

“There’s no doubt that these guys hit it hard,” says Weiss. “Unquestionably that’s the signature of the band.” The trumpeter produced Cast the First Stone; he’s also the group’s straw boss. “I love Warriors, our previous disc, but some considered it a kinder and gentler Cookers record. This one has a great balance. There’s pretty stuff, smart stuff, and tough stuff – a few really rugged pieces in fact. It’s one of those records that grabs you from the first note and doesn’t let go.”

New Music [Jazz] for The Week of 5/3/2010

Tags

African American, Azar Lawrence, Jazz, Saxophonist

Greetings’ fellow jazz enthusiasts, May arrives just in time with the distinctive and insinuating sounds, melodies, rhythms & dexterous flavors of jazz to quench your ongoing thirst for new music. As always, it’s an honor to compile an extraordinary complex yet diverse mix of New Jazz Releases for you each week. The multi-facet saxophonist Azar Lawrence is here with his stellar new offering titled: “Mystic Journey” which is our Featured Album of the Week! Vocal stylists Robin McKelle & Nikki Yanofsky are in the mix with their latest projects “Mess Around” and “Nikki.” If that’s not enough, check out the Dutch Nu-Jazz Movement’s latest “What’s Nu?” along with trombonist Alan Ferber’s experimental project “Music for Nonet & Strings: Chamber Songs” … all these titles and more are just a click away to discover fresh and stimulating music!

Featured Album of the Week

Azar Lawrence - Mystic Journey

Azar Lawrence ::|:: Mystic Journey – [Furthermore Recordings, 2010]

The re-emergence of saxophonist Azar Lawrence has been one of the most exciting things and perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the past five years on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Those who have experienced Azar live in the past year can bear witness to a real life prodigal son story. No doubt remains that he is here to reclaim his title as heir to the throne of the John Coltrane legacy.

A child prodigy, Azar played in the shadows and under the watchful eyes of giants. At 21, he was hired by Miles Davis to perform and record at Carnegie Hall in what would become the 1974 underground classic, Dark Magus. In his twenties, he was taken in by Coltrane acolytes McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones and absorbed all they had to teach. He appeared on several of Tyner’s classic ’70s recordings and was signed by the Prestige label, where he recorded three albums as a leader.

Below we have list of this weeks latest jazz releases, also while you’re here check out Amazon.com for and extended lists of imports, vinyl and re-issues.

JOURNEYED TENOR SAXOPHONIST AZAR LAWRENCE SET TO RELEASE MYSTIC JOURNEY, MAY 4 ON FURTHERMORE RECORDINGS

Tags

African American, Azar Lawrence, Jazz, Saxophone

ALBUM FEATURES EDDIE HENDERSON, GERALD HAYES, BENITO GONZALEZ, ESSIET ESSIET AND THE LATE RASHIED ALI

Azar Lawrence - Mystic Journey

LAWRENCE’S SEXTET TO PERFORM IN TRIBUTE TO ALI ON MAY 7 AT THE TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The re-emergence of saxophonist Azar Lawrence has been one of the most exciting things and perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the past five years on the Los Angeles jazz scene. Those who have experienced Azar live in the past year can bear witness to a real life prodigal son story. No doubt remains that he is here to reclaim his title as heir to the throne of the John Coltrane legacy.

A child prodigy, Azar played in the shadows and under the watchful eyes of giants. At 21, he was hired by Miles Davis to perform and record at Carnegie Hall in what would become the 1974 underground classic, Dark Magus. In his twenties, he was taken in by Coltrane acolytes McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones and absorbed all they had to teach. He appeared on several of Tyner’s classic ’70s recordings and was signed by the Prestige label, where he recorded three albums as a leader.