The latest episode of the Burning Ambulance podcast features an interview with saxophonist Azar Lawrence. Based in Los Angeles, Lawrence worked with McCoy Tyner on some of the pianist’s best 1970s albums, including the live albums Enlightenment and Atlantis. He can also be heard with Miles Davis on Dark Magus—he was invited to audition for Miles’s band live onstage at Carnegie Hall, but ultimately opted to stay with Tyner. Lawrence has bounced all around the music scene since the ’70s—he’s written songs for Earth, Wind & Fire, was a member of the Cookers, and has made a dozen or so albums under his own name. His solo debut, Bridge into the New Age, was reissued on vinyl late last year, and his newest album, Elementals, is out this week.
In our interview, Azar Lawrence talks about working with McCoy Tyner, with Miles Davis, with Elvin Jones, with Earth, Wind & Fire, with Kamasi Washington, and much more. It’s a fascinating conversation, and I hope you enjoy it.
Also, you’ll notice that as of this episode, the Burning Ambulance podcast is part of the Osiris podcast network, so visit the Osiris website to see if any of their other shows are of interest. Osiris is also a partner of Relix, so check out the Relix website for additional music news, etc.
