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BLOG SERIES: Musicians I Have Known // Trevor Lawrence.


 

Trevor Lawrence


Another sax great whom, as a high school kid, I had transcribed solos of; then ended up meeting was Trever Lawrence. In 1970, the famous harmonica player Paul Butterfield put together a real funk band and recorded a live LP unlike any of his other blues projects. The guitarist Ralph Wash is one of the most unique players I have ever heard. The LP is called Paul Butterfield Live. I transcribed two solos on this LP: Ralph Wash's and Trevor Lawrence.


Almost 50 years later I would meet Trevor at a Friday night jam in Newport Beach CA. I had no idea what he looked like since the Butterfield LP didn’t have a good pic of him.


He played his ass off and was obviously a cut way above most sax guys so after the

jam I introduced myself. He said “Trevor” and put out his hand, I asked him what his last

name was, He replied “Lawrence”. Well this is not an unusual name so I had to check

“Not THE Trevor Lawrence” and he laughed.


Again, like George Adams, he was amused that I had figured out his solo on what was for him an obscure part of his career. I mean he played with Marvin Gaye blowing on of the most famous solos of all time on Whats Goin On. He also played with The Stones, Joe Cocker, Stevie Wonder and co-produced The Pointer Sisters biggest hit LP. 

It turned out Trevor is from Brooklyn and went way back with Fatback Band's leader Bill Curtis. 


In 2018, he called me and sent link to his new project with a Japanese pianist. The tunes were incredible. The style was Coltrane inspired tunes with Trevor on soprano. The tunes were in the later Coltrane style but not as jarring as Trane. 

I really dug them.


 

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