Originally issued in 1975, this spiritual free-jazz album remains one of the highlights of the illustrious career of Azar Lawrence, one of the only remaining artists from the legendary Prestige Records era who is still touring and putting out new music. The album was remastered All-Analog from the original tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressing.

• Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series
• 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Pressed at QRP, USA
• All-Analog mastering
• Cut from the Original Master Tapes
• Cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio

Shortly after John Coltrane's death in 1967, Azar Lawrence, at just 19 years old, was chosen by Elvin Jones (for 3.5 years) then McCoy Tyner (for 5 years) to fill the shoes of Mr. Coltrane. Lawrence has also contributed as a sideman to Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw. He has recorded and played with Miles Davis on his Dark Magus album, and wrote and recorded with Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye to name a few!

Lawrence released Summer Solstice on Prestige Records in 1975, produced by Orrin Keepnews. It featured Raul de Souza, Gerald Hayes, Amaury Tristão, Dom Salvador, Ron Carter and Guilherme Franco on the songs "Novo Ano" and "Highway", which were composed by Amaury Tristão, and Lawrence, Souza, Albert Dailey, Carter and Billy Hart on all other selections.

Originally issued in 1975, this spiritual free-jazz album remains one of the highlights of the illustrious career of Azar Lawrence, one of the only remaining artists from the legendary Prestige Records era who is still touring and putting out new music. The album was remastered All-Analog from the original tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressing.

Highly regarded as one of Lawrence's finest solo albums, Summer Solstice is a transcendent journey into his Brazilian influenced free-jazz fusion musings. Having started his journey in the jazz realm as a very young man, Lawrence honed his skills among luminary giants such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane, followed by a five-year stint of work with the great McCoy Tyner where he found his voice as a performer and composer. According to an article on Lawrence by Chuck Koton for All About Jazz, "...his ascent to the peak of the jazz world at times lead Lawrence to wonder how he could be playing with these giants and it was Tyner who reassured Azar that as a young man that he belonged in such company because he could not only play the hell out of the horn, but because he felt the same way about the music as John (Coltrane) did."

Recorded during a prime period of exploration and adventure for modern American jazz music, Summer Solstice finds Lawrence leading a team of international virtuosos consisting of Amaury Tristão on guitar, Dom Salvador and Albert Daily on piano, Ron Carter on bass, Billy Hart on drums, Guilherme Franco on percussion, Gerald Hayes on flute, and the one and only Raul de Souza, who is known for his work with artists like Sérgio Mendes and Sonny Rollins, on trombone. In the producer's chair is Orrin Keepnews, famous for his golden ears that led him to discover artists such as Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley and Jimmy Heath. The result is an album that operates in the sonic space halfway between the influence of the American jazz standards of the '50s and '60s and the free spirit of the Brazilian jazz made popular by artists like Hermeto Pascoal and Egberto Gismonti.

Lawrence's bold and fearless exploration of new sounds influenced many generations to come, and can be heard in the playing of his younger colleagues, like the great Kamasi Washington who cites him as a big influence.

Musicians:

Azar Lawrence, soprano & tenor saxophones
Albert Dailey / Dom Salvador, piano
Amaury Tristao, acoustic guitar
Ron Carter, bass
Billy Hart / Guilherme Franco, drums
Gerald Hayes, flute
Raul de Souza, trombone

Track Listing:

1. From The Point Of Love
2. Novo Ano
3. From The Point Of Light
4. Summer Solstice
5. Highway

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫