Tenor saxist Azar Lawrence’s classic 1975 album Summer Solstice has finally been reissued, still in vinyl and still sounding fantastic. Lawrence plays alto, tenor and soprano sax as well as some exotic percussion along with McCoy Tyner-inspired Albert Bailey or Dom Salvador/p, Raul de Souza/tb, Amauri Tristao/g, Gerald Hayes/fl, Ron Carter/b and Guitherme Franco or Hilly Hart/dr. The result is some astounding pieces that harken to and expand from John Coltrane’s Africa Brass sessions.
Driving piano and fervent brass and tenor sax create an avalanche on the exciting “From The Point of Life” with sparks flying from the piano and guitar on the urgent “Highway”. Tribal percussion and whistles set the stage for an expansive piano work on “From The Point of Love” with a muscular duet between drums and piano go rapid fire on the title track. Lawrence plays soprano with passion as well as with his earthy and clarion tenor for the Afro Cuban “Novo Ano” with thunderous rhythm giving the speakers a workout. Nothing today sounds this fervent, except the latest album by Lawrence. WHEW!