PRINCE H. LAWSHA'S FIRST LOVE IS PERFORMING

Often doing so with his father, noted jazz saxophonist William "Prince" Lasha, it was said of their 1977 Berkeley Firebirds performance, by Thomas Albright of the San Francisco Chronicle, "Their powerhouse quartet provided both sensitive and fiery collaboration."  And critics hailed their 1987 performance at the Novi Sad Jazz Festival in Yugoslavia with Woody Shaw as the most exciting music to appear in Novi Sad in years.

After playing with various groups, Lawsha formed his own band Quiet Spirit in 1978, and with his dynamic drumming became known as one of the most exciting and versatile dance bands in the San Francisco Bay area, playing all styles of music from the 40's through the Top 40's. As the heart of Quiet Spirit, Lawsha's sensitivity and stimulating rhythms were the unifying force that blended the soft and subtle with the vibrant and energetic. Knowing that music creates memories, Lawsha's instinctive feel for the  perfect musical ambiance for every special event and his keen awareness of decorum and timing earned him a reputation for dependability and excellence as a bandleader.

Lawsha has also performed with Sun RA, Eddie Henderson, Dewey Redman, Calvin Keyes, Vernon Black and Sonny Simmons, along with Cecil Bridgewater, Odean Pope and Tyrone Brown during rehearsals for Max Roach.  Max Roach exclaims, "Prince has his finger on the pulse and style of dealing with percussion and music itself.  He has something of his own to portray and it fits in with how he thinks about people, warmly."

The music Lawsha is currently composing and performing glows straight from the heart and casts an enchanting spell on listener's ears and feelings.  Seducing with a soothing, joyous spirit, Lawsha's drumming sways with a tantalizing groove, as witnessed on both of his CD's, aided by the high energy playing of master percussionist Kenneth Nash.  Lawsha's new seven-piece touring band consists of stellar performers, including Parisian virtuoso trumpeter Alain Brunet, the lyrical saxophone and flute of Paul Contos, pianist Peter Horvath, Nelson Braxton on bass, provocative guitarist Jeff Buenz and amazing percussionist Victor See Yuen.