Sunday, March 18, 2018

Azar Lawrence - Elementals (HighNote Records 2018)


It will come as no surprise to fans of Azar Lawrence that his life's work is to bridge the gap between his listeners and the Elementals (the spiritual essences of the four elements earth, air, fire and water). For over four decades he has unstintingly explored music as a healing force, and the mystical connections between past and future, myth and fact, the physical world and that which is beyond. . Lawrence hopes that in a holistic sense, Elementals encourages a spiritual awakening. "All of this music is healing music; that's our whole concept is to heal and uplift," he explains. "If it's delivered and received on the right level, it will raise our own vibrations and bring us in touch with those higher spirits that respond when the music is pure with love and joy." It also happens to be an intensely powerful and swinging recording.

La Bossa
Eye of the Needle
Elementals
Brazilian Girls
Solar Winds
Koko
African Chant
Sing to the World
It's Easy to Remember
Karma Sutra


Benito Gonzales, keyboards
Jeff Littleton, bass
Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums
Munyungo Jackson, percussion

with
Oren Waters
John Barnes
Greg Poree
Mayuto Correa & Joe Blocker