AZAR LAWRENCE

Prayer For My Ancestors

2009-10-06

Having performed and/or recorded for decades with the likes of Miles Davis, Stanley Turrentine, and later for Earth, Wind, and Fire, tenor saxophonist, Azar Lawrence has finally assembled a quartet and put out an album of his own (his first since the seventies). Some of this is almost bop such as "The Baker's Daughter", which is upbeat and features a short drum solo. Some of this is smooth jazz, such as "Open Sesame" and the quiet "Under Tanzanian Skies". The piece, "Prayer For My Ancestors", seems to be leading somewhere, but never quite seems to get there. However, the song "Thokole" steals the show. It's a quiet piece featuring nice interplay between guests Ibrahima Ba on vocals and guitar and Amadou Fall on the kora. This one song is definitely the highlight of the entire album and well worth a listen. Rebecca Ruth

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Jazz

  • reviewed 12/2006

    ERIC FRAZIER
    In Your Own Time

  • reviewed 11/2012

    CLIFTON ANDERSON
    AND SO WE CARRY ON

  • reviewed 05/2006

    Colin Stranahan
    Transformation

  • reviewed 01/2006

    HAPPY APPLE
    The Peace Between Our Companies

  • reviewed 10/2008

    JAVON JACKSON
    – Once Upon a Melody

  • reviewed 02/2008

    BEN ALLISON AND MAN SIZE SAFE
    Little Things Run the World

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.