Arnie Lawrence - R.I.P.

[Lois Gilbert]

Tenor Saxophonist Arnie Lawrence who played with
Charlie Palmieri, Chico Hamilton, Clark Terry, Willie
Bobo, Elvin Jones, Louis Bellson, Tito Rodriguez as
well as many others and was part of the Tonight Show
Orchestra for Johnny Carson just died in Israel.

His greatest contribution to Jazz was being the
co-founder of the New School University Jazz &
Contemporary Music Progam

For those of you on this forum who may have personally
known Arnie, If you would like to send condolences to
his wife, Liza, she can share
them at his funeral which I think will be held on
Monday. You can
email her at: Ladali@013.net.il

There will be a memorial concert for him in NY soon.

"Arnie Lawrence is a jazz saxophonist who is as
consumed with the emotional content of his music as
with technical virtuosity and rhythmic drive. ...Mr.
Lawrence played with an intense involvement that put a
very personal stamp on his performance."
-New York Times

"Arnie Lawrence is one of the unsung heroes of the
alto sax. Arnie 'sings' his song with power-packed
passion and pyrotechnical panache."
-Chuck Berg, Journal World

"Lawrence is a wonderful saxophonist, but more
importantly, he's a truly creative musician... and
consistently makes music that blends swinging,
crooning and even mourning into a fascinating tapestry
of sound."
-New York Newsday
photo:Joan Powers

A Brief Biography...

Saxophonist Arnie Lawrence has often been referred to
as an Underground Legend. He is an immensely talented
and soulful player who leaves a lasting impression on
everyone who hears him. He is recognized as world
class Jazz musician and is the possessor of a
prodigious saxophone technique, but his true gift is
his ability to touch people through his playing,
exploring and illuminating the recesses of the
emotional palette.

Born in Brownsville Brooklyn, New York, the young Mr.
Lawrence began studying clarinet at age 11. By age 17
he was leading groups on the "Jazz Unlimited" series
presented at Birdland in New York City, where one of
his early inspirations was playing a double bill with
John Coltrane. Arnie's reputation was soon spreading
through New York and he began to work with some of the
best and most creative bands, the Frank Foster Big
Band, Duke Pearson Big Band, Charles Mingus, Thad
Jones, Mel Lewis, Urbie Greene and the Tommy Dorsey
Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson and Bill Watrous and the
Manhatten Wildlife Refuge.

Arnie made his first recording on the Chico Hamilton
album "The Dealer", with Larry Coryell, Richard Davis
and Archie Shepp and became a long time member of
Chico's groups and albums. During the 1960's Arnie was
also working with Clark Terry's Big band. In September
1967 Arnie joined The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
as featured soloist, where he performed with artists
Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, B.B. King, and Tony
Bennet. During that period Arnie also managed to
squeeze in some gigs with Sir Roland Hanna, the New
York Jazz Quartet and Helen Humes. In 1972, when the
show moved to California, Arnie decided to stay in New
York and pursue his muse. In the 1970's Arnie led his
group "Treasure Island" which included Tom Harrell,
Mike Richmond, Badal Roy, Hal Galper, Lew Sollof, and
Ray Nance. The Group performed in the US and Europe
including Town Hall in New York and the Berlin
Philharmonic in Germany. The group had an album
produced by Bob Theil, which was released in 1983.
Arnie also led a more experimental group, which
recorded several albums under the name "Children of
All Ages". The personnel of this group over a period
of several years included Roy Haynes, Richard Davis,
Grady Tate, Ron McClure, Dick Hyman, Randy Brecker and
Michael Brecker. "Children of All Ages" performed at
the Museum of Modern Art New York, showcasing for the
first time in public Robert Moog's synthesizer.

Also during the 1970's Arnie played with Dizzy
Gillespie and Stan Getz in Willie Bobo's Latin Jazz
Band, which made appearances at the Nice Festival in
France and at the Capital Jazz festival in London. In
1974 Arnie was a member of Blood Sweat and Tears and
can be heard on some of their recordings. Arnie also
continued to tour with Chico Hamilton. 1978 saw Arnie
appearing with Dizzy Gillespie and Teresa Brewer, then
embarking on a 14 month long world tour as soloist
with Liza Minelli

In the early to mid-1980's Arnie toured with both
Louis Bellson's Big Band and Elvin Jones and also made
notable festival appearances with James Moody,
Illinois Jaquet, Lee Konitz, John Lewis, Jimmy
Garrison and Lionel Hampton. During this period Arnie
composed a symphonic work entitled "Red, White and
Blues", the debut performance by the Williamsberg,
Virginia Symphony Orchestra featured Dizzy Gillespie,
Julius Hemphill and Arnie Lawrence as the soloists.

In 1986 Arnie put his performing and recording career
on the back burner and for the next ten years threw
himself into an education project that became known as
the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New
York City. As the creator and co-founder Arnie drew
the talent that would make The New School arguably the
top educational center for young musicians to study
with the masters. His teaching style is uniquely his,
drawing from his education in the aural tradition of
jazz. Arnie's students from the school are spread all
over the globe, and a short list of his well known
students includes; Roy Hargrove, Brad Mehldau, Larry
Goldings, John Popper, Peter Bernstien and Jay
Rodriguez.

In 1997 Arnie left the New School, picked up his New
York roots and moved to Jerusalem, Israel, where he
founded the International Center for Creative Music,
Jerusalem, where he currently teaches. The ICCM is an
educational facility where young Israelis and
Palestinians study music and life skills together
along with students from around the world.

Mr. Lawrence has composed material for religious
services, some of which was performed at funeral
services for both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby
Kennedy from Riverside Church (broadcast live with
Rev. John Gensel). Some of these compositions have
also been performed at Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher
Hall, and at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. He also
composed music for the dedication of the new Reform
Hebrew prayer book, which was published by the Central
Conference of American Rabbis to be used in Friday
night services throughout the U.S.

Arnie Lawrence currently lives in Jerusalem, Israel.
Arnie Lawrence: Partial Discography

As a leader:
"You're gonna Hear From Me" Project 3
"Renewal" 1981. With Billy Hart, Hilton Ruiz, Mike
Richmond, Chico Hamilton, Ram Ramirez. Palo Alto
Records 8033
"Treasure Island" 1979. With Tom Harrell, DR. Jazz
Records
"Look Toward a Dream" 1968. With Roy Haynes, Larry
Coryell, Richard Davis
"Children Of All Ages" With Bob Dorrough, Adamo
Records
"Children Of All Ages, Just Might Turn Out To Be
Sages", Different Drummer Records
"Children Of All Ages, Inside a Looking Glass" with
Richard Davis, Dick Hyman. Embryo/Atlantic 525
"Let Me Hear You"
"Unobstructed Universe" Different Drummer Records

As A Side Man:
Marya Lawrence & Metamorphosis: "All The Way Back"
Oxygen Music Works/Zazu Records
Chico Hamilton: "The Pusher" Impulse A-9130
Chico Hamilton: "El Exigente"
Chico Hamilton: "Peregrinations" Blue Note - BNLA520-G

Clark Terry: "Big Bad Band, Live" 1974 - Vanguard
VSD79355
Pearl Baily "With Benny Carter" Project 3
Louis Bellson "Big Band London Scene" Concord Jazz -
CJ1570
Chuck Israels "National Jazz Ensemble" Chiaroscuro -
151
Liza Minelli "Live at Carnegie Hall" 1979 - Altel
Mark Weinstein with Chick Corea "Cuban Roots" Musicor
Int. MM4038
Gail Wynters: "Let The Lady Sing" RCA Victor
Gail Wynters: "Boogie To Heaven" Virginia Westchester
Corp.
Elvis Presly "Live From Madison Square Garden"
James Brown "Get On The Good Foot" & "Hot Pants"
The Spin Doctors: "You've Got To Believe In Something"
1996 - Columbia
Beaver Harris "In Sanity" 1976
Blood, Sweat and Tears "Mirror Image" 1974 Columbia
32929
Blood, Sweat and Tears "New City" 1975 Columbia 33484
Blood, Sweat and Tears "More Than Ever" 1976 Columbia
34233
Doc Severinsen: "Good Medicine" 1992
Frank Vignola: "Let It Happen" 1994. Concord Jazz -
4625
Glenn Alexander: "Glenn Alexander" 1992 Chase Music
Group CM8006
David Chesky "Big Band" Columbia
Cissy Houston "Cissy Houston" Private Stock Records
PS2031
Johnny Richards "A Qui Habla Espagnol" 1967 Roulette
R25351
Jim Dawson "Elephants in the Rain" 1975
Genya Raven "Genya Raven With Baby" 1972 Columbia
C31001
Syms, Sylvia "She Loves to Hear the Music" 1978 A&M
4696
Teresa Brewer " Live at Carnegie Hall & Montreaux,"
1978. Dr. Jazz W2X39521
Teresa Brewer with Mercer Ellington "Cotton
Connection" 1985. Signature
Ian Hunter "All American Boy" 1976 Columbia 34142
Jerry Tiltz " The New York Tapes" Both Feet Records

[Lois Gilbert]

saddened and surprised that no one has commenting on the passing of Arnie

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Lois,

I've heard very little of his music. However, does he have a son named Scott? When NPR ran its series on aged jazz musicians last week they got a letter from someone named Scott Lawrence who commented on the fate of old jazz musicians. All he said was that he was the son of jazz musician.

[hornplayer]

It certainly is sad that someone with such a long and varied background was not better known. This is the first time I can recall ever hearing of him.

[Uli]

RIP, Mr Lawrence!

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

h.p.,

There's got to be thousands of cats like him. I was listening to some of Wayne Shorter's Blue Notes awhile back and it occured to me how important James Spaulding was to Blue Note. Now James is not dead, but think of all the musicians who've made pretty big contributions to jazz but are unheralded. You've got a music that's pretty much marginalized in American culture. Whereas a marginal pop musician or sideman will be well known, a jazz guy won't.

I've heard of Arnie, and I've got a pretty large music collection so he's probably on something I own.

what Darryl sez. alone from the partial list above I know I have heard him on two of chico Hamilton's and on the Beaver Harris.

Ps Listening to him. I am not sure if he actually is on the Beaver Harris. Probably a mix up with Azar Lawrence.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

h.p.,

There's got to be thousands of cats like him. I was listening to some of Wayne Shorter's Blue Notes awhile back and it occured to me how important James Spaulding was to Blue Note. Now James is not dead, but think of all the musicians who've made pretty big contributions to jazz but are unheralded. You've got a music that's pretty much marginalized in American culture. Whereas a marginal pop musician or sideman will be well known, a jazz guy won't.

I've heard of Arnie, and I've got a pretty large music collection so he's probably on something I own.

[hornplayer]

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

h.p.,

There's got to be thousands of cats like him. I was listening to some of Wayne Shorter's Blue Notes awhile back and it occured to me how important James Spaulding was to Blue Note. Now James is not dead, but think of all the musicians who've made pretty big contributions to jazz but are unheralded. You've got a music that's pretty much marginalized in American culture. Whereas a marginal pop musician or sideman will be well known, a jazz guy won't.

I've heard of Arnie, and I've got a pretty large music collection so he's probably on something I own.

I know Darryl... I'm a musician, and I know a whole host of cats who've done a LOT and written and/or arranged a LOT and recorded a LOT with a WHOLE HOST of folks, but if I mention them to most Jazz fans, they'd say "WHO???" It's really sad.... 2 exceptional cases in point.... My all-time favorite tenor player - Eddie Johnson (Who???) and my favorite drummer - Curtis Prince (another WHO???)

[Darryl G. Thomas]

h.p.,

You've made my point. Never heard of Johnson or Prince.

It reminds me of when Danny D'Imperio was running amok on the old Jazz Central site. I checked out a couple of his CDs and "discovered" this wonderful pianist named O'Brien (Hod?). Cat's been around awhile, kind of noted, I think he even lives in the DC area. Never heard of the dude. It was one of those "where have you been all my life?" moments. Happens all the time.

Now here's what I'm going to do. Check out some Arnie Lawrence. It's my way of apologizing for missing you when you were around.

RIP.

[grove47]

I met Arnie Lawrence back in 1980 at an NEA Artists-In-Residence conference at Duke University. He was at the time looking to do a residency in Kentucky as part of this jazz artists-in-residence program administered by Larry Ridley and the dance people at the NEA. I found him to be a thoroughly engaging and no BS person who was fun to hang with. He had definitely paid dues by this point and was a heavy musician, but he seemed completely down to earth, and was very nice to me.

I came away thinking about Arnie and what a deep, soulful cat he was, quite charismatic in a way. He returned the next year with a young group of kids he had mentored. He seemed to be thinking outside the box, as they say now. He didn't seem like the typical educator type of person who thinks in a certain way. Like a lot of musicians of his time, he was an artist with a lot of life experience, and he seemed to approach teaching with that attitude. I completely dug that, and I guess some of that stays with me today.

I never saw Arnie to speak to after that, but I did see him play with a bunch of New School "faculty" (most were people quite well-known- Billy Harper was one I think) about 10 years ago at the IAJE. It seems to me that even though he never recorded that much, his life in jazz was tremendously significant, particularly with regard to the jazz program at The New School, which we all know is an important program, one of the most high-profile in jazz education, and unique in its concept. Arnie Lawrence' influence extends directly and indirectly to all of those who come through there.

[Lois Gilbert]

Thank you all for posting. Here's a little more info

In 1986 Arnie put his performing and recording career on the back burner and for the next ten years threw himself into an education project that became known as the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. As the creator and co-founder Arnie drew the talent that would make The New School arguably the top educational center for young musicians to study with the masters. His teaching style is uniquely his, drawing from his education in the aural tradition of jazz. Arnie's students from the school are spread all over the globe, and a short list of his well known students includes; Roy Hargrove, Brad Mehldau, Larry Goldings, John Popper, Peter Bernstien and Jay Rodriguez.

In 1997 Arnie left the New School, picked up his New York roots and moved to Jerusalem, Israel, where he founded the International Center for Creative Music, Jerusalem, where he currently teaches. The ICCM is an educational facility where young Israelis and Palestinians study music and life skills together along with students from around the world.

[Lois Gilbert]

Arnie Lawrence, 66, Mentor and Teacher on Jazz Scene, Dies
By BEN RATLIFF

rnie Lawrence, a jazz saxophonist and pioneering educator who helped found the jazz program at the New School University in New York and started an innovative program to train young jazz musicians of both Jewish and Arab backgrounds in Israel, died on April 22 in Jerusalem. He was 66 and lived in Jerusalem.

The cause was lung and liver cancer, said his son Erik Lawrence.

Mr. Lawrence grew up in the Brownsville area of Brooklyn and was playing professionally in the Catskills at age 12. In the early 1960's he worked in Los Angeles for two years, including a stint with Chico Hamilton's band; he can be heard on one of Mr. Hamilton's better-known albums, "The Dealer."

By 1963 he had returned to New York, working with Clark Terry, among others, and in 1967 joined the house band of Johnny Carson's "Tonight" show as lead alto player. He stayed with the show until it moved to Los Angeles, in 1972. Later in the 1970's he worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Liza Minnelli, and Blood, Sweat and Tears, and led two groups, Treasure Island and Children of All Ages.

But it was perhaps Mr. Lawrence's career as an educator that made the biggest impact on the jazz world. He started in the mid-1970's, with artist-in-residence jobs in Kentucky and Kansas. In 1986, he helped found the jazz and contemporary music program at the New School in Manhattan, and became a full-time faculty member. The program became known for an unorthodox, less academic approach, breaking down the walls of the institution to take the students out into the jazz scene in the city. He was a mentor to a generation of New York jazz musicians, including Brad Mehldau, Roy Hargrove and Larry Goldings.

In 1997 Mr. Lawrence moved to Israel, founding the International Center for Creative Music, Jerusalem. With some public support and his own savings, he attempted to bridge the Jewish and Arab worlds through jazz education, though he insisted that he was simply bringing musicians together and did not care what their backgrounds were.

"I've been called naïve and stupid and perhaps a bit crazy," he told a reporter for United Press International in 2001. "Maybe I am. But I have hope."

The school was housed in a building offered by the Jerusalem municipality's department of culture, but it was not accredited; it had no tuition, diplomas or age requirements, and the emphasis was less on music-theory instruction than on the cooperative experience.

Mr. Lawrence also promoted two charities working for peace and for the safety of children in conflict areas, God Bless the Child and Blues for Peace.

For a time, he ran a small club in Jerusalem called Arnie's Jazz Underground, and before rising tensions made it impossible, he played with Jewish and Palestinian musicians at the Flamingo club in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

In addition to his son Erik, of Putney, Vt., Mr. Lawrence is survived by his wife, Liza, of Jerusalem; his sons Scott, of Ellicott City, Md., and Danny, of Jerusalem; two daughters, Marya, of Manhattan, and Jana, of Shreveport, La; a brother, Howard, of New York; and seven grandchildren.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/29/ar...943f56&ei=5070

[groover]

Sounds like Arnie did more to promote peace than any of the political leaders is capable of. I hope his efforts continue to make a difference, even if he's no longer around to see it through. May they beat their swords into saxophones! God bless you and RIP, Arnie!