Meet The TALEr's

Mr. Azar Lawrence ( Legendary Saxophonist)

Azar is on fire! Shortly after John Coltane’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. Azar recorded and played with Miles Davis on his Dark Magus album, wrote and recorded with Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye to name a few!  Azar’s 2018 album, Elementals, garnered such reviews as “Azar Lawrence sounds more like John Coltrane than John Coltrane ever did” Chris May, London Times, a humbling review.  Azar continues to roar with his 8 piece ensemble, The Azar Lawrence Experience, sizzling to the sound of Azar’s original compositions from Elementals and Concord’s reiissued Bridge into the New Age & the 1976  Summer Solstice album!

(Click Here to See Azar’s Full Bio)

Babatunde Lea (Percussion)

Babatunde Lea’s vast experience of nearly forty years as a master percussionist, as well as the spiritual depth and resonance he brings to everything he does, has made him one of the most esteemed musicians of the past half century.   He joined a band called Juju, which relocated to Richmond, Virginia in the early 1970s.  Among the artists with whom he played were Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Randy Weston, Van Morrison, and Oscar Brown, Jr.. His first album as leader, Levels of Consciousness was released in 1979. He recorded with a band called Phenomena, which grew out of the Loft Jazz Association.   In 2010, Babatunde moved to Pennsylvania to teach at Gettysburg College.

Brian Swartz (Trumpet)

 Trumpeter Brian Swartz  has appeared on multiple Grammy nominated and winning recordings with artists including The Dixie Chicks, John Beasley’s Monk’estra , and Kim Richmond’s Concert Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed or recorded with Michael Bublé, Saint Motel, Patti Labelle, Natalie Cole,  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Luckman Jazz Orchestra, Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars and many more.

Theo Saunders (Piano)

Theo Saunders has performed and recorded with dozens of jazz luminaries and worked extensively in the bands of Freddie Hubbard, Carla Bley, Sonny Fortune, Bob Brookmeyer, and John Klemmer, as well as Azar Lawrence.   He participates in the historic album, “Living Time” on Columbia Records which brought together the writing of composer George Russell and pianist Bill Evans. Theo played electric piano and clavinet and the band consisted of a pantheon of great jazz musicians, including Joe Henderson, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Eddie Gomez,  Sam Rivers, Jimmy Guiffre, Snooky Young and Howard Johnson. His latest recording, “Trane Stories” with Teodross Avery, Dwight Trible, Henry Franklin, and Marvin “Smitty” Smith also features Azar Lawrence as a guest on “Afro Blue”. This recording marks his ninth as a leader and he has been a sideman on more than 50 jazz recordings.

Yayo Morales (Drums)

Yayo Morales after spending many years of international acclaim, living and working in Europe, performing with top Jazz, Latin Jazz and Flamenco stars, moved and is now situated in L.A. Drummer, Composer, Producer, Arranger and Educator, Yayo has played with an array of talent, such as:, Jerry González, Chano Domínguez, “Tomatito”, Jorge Pardo, Carles Benavent, and many other artists including Rita Marley, La Barbería del Sur, Henry “The Skipper” Franklin, Azar Lawrence, Bobby Bradford, Steve Cotter, Theo Saunders, Benn Clatworthy and Ron Stout to mention a few.  His own project entitled “Los Andes Jazz Project” parts one and two, based on rhythms and folkloric styles from Bolivia and the Andes fused with jazz was awarded a diploma from the Honorable Alcaldía Municipal de La Paz (Bolivia) and the Oficialía Mayor de Culturas for his work, in recognition for his contribution to the development of Bolivian contemporary music.

Julian Coryell (Guitar)

Julian Coryell began playing music at the tender age of five. Son of famed Jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, Julian’s musical gifts were nourished, and he's been playing guitar and singing ever since.  The Coryell household was never lacking in musical visitors. Julian was exposed to everyone from Miles Davis to James Taylor. At 16 he entered the Berklee College of Music and became it's youngest graduate two years later at 18.  Since then, he's toured, written and recorded with an eclectic array of artists including Alanis Morissette, Leonard Cohen, Madeleine Peyroux, and Blood, Sweat and Tears. He's released his own solo records on Universal, Sony, and GRP. When he’s not playing guitar on the road, he’s based out of Los Angeles, producing other artists, as well as teaching at Cal State Dominguez Hills. 

Edwin Livingston (Bass)

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Edwin was exposed to music early in his life.  Edwin has 4 GRAMMY nominations and has appeared in several feature films, including Ray, Dreamgirls, & Low Down. He has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, A & E Private Sessions with Queen Latifa.  Edwin has performed and/or recorded with: Elvin Jones, Ellis, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis, The Headhunters, Los Hombres Calientes (Grammy nominated Latin Jazz album), Bob Mintzer Big Band (Grammy nominated large ensemble jazz band) Dave Slonaker Big Band (Grammy nominated large ensemble jazz band) Catina DeLuna & Lado B  (Grammy nominated Best Arrangemnt, Song, Vocal), Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Raphel Saadiq, Mary J. Blige, The Benjamin Wright Orchestra, Keiko Matsui, Seal, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bob Mintzer, Yellowjackets, Kat McPhee, Melody Gardot, Natalie Cole and many others.