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.

Dimitris Mahlis (Guitar)

Dimitris Mahlis is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based in the Los Angeles area. Since coming to LA, Dimitris’ skills on oud, guitar and other stringed instruments have led him into a rich variety of performing and recording experiences. Some recent recording credits include: lal meri – “lal meri”, “O Samanos” Dionisis Savopoulo-Thanasis Papakonstantinou, “Huun Huur Tu” with Carmen Rizzo, “Vino” with Robi Draco Rosa, and “Jostejoo” with Mamak Khadem. Dimitris also contributed music to Michael Apted’s documentary The Power of the Game and is featured on the soundtrack of the film Clash of the Titans 2.  Dimitris has performed and toured throughout the world with artists such as A.R.Rahman, Axiom of Choice, Dionisis Savopoulos, Niyaz, Freddie Hubbard, Thanasis Papakonstantinou, Kevyn Lettau, Russell Ferrante and others.

Gerald Brown (Bass)

Los Angeles native Gerald "Get-Down" Brown is a by-product of the Locke H.S. Msingi Workshop Jazz Band that featured the brilliant pianist Patrice Rushen  and saxophonist Gerald Albright. Having studied under jazz bassist Ray Brown and Thelonius Monk bassist Larry Gales he further his musical education by attending the U.S.C. School of Music, performed in the Symphony Orchestra , and studied String Bass under Professor Milton Kestenbaum. Having played all genres of music in his formative teen years he was well equipped to garner the bass chair for Marvin Gaye through an  audition and recorded The Live At The London Palladium album in 1976. Other artist for whom he has performed with are: Michael Jackson, Maurice White(EW&F), Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Willie Bobo, The Emotions, Ronnie  Laws, Norman Connors, Kenny Burrell, Doug Carn, Harold Land Sr., Gene Chandler, Nancy Wilson, Stephanie Mills,Diane Reeves, and the Big Bands of Gerald Wilson, Teddy Edwards, Oliver Nelson and Joe Williams.

Munyungo Jackson (Percussion)

Despite his youthful appearance, Munyungo is no newcomer: in his over thirty years of playing, he has developed an awesome versatility & became a well-respected & much requested session, concert & tour player. He has performed with Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Kenny Loggins, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, the Zawinul Syndicate, George Howard, Ronnie Laws, The Temptations, Four Tops, The Supremes, Bennie Maupin, Bill Summers, Marcus Miller, & dozens of others, including numerous ethnic music & dance troupes.

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.