William B. Lawsha, better known as Prince Lasha (pronounced "La-shay") (born 1929 in Fort Worth, Texas), is an American jazz alto saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist. In Fort Worth he came of age studying and performing alongside fellow musicians John Carter, Ornette Coleman, King Curtis, Charles Moffett, and Dewey Redman.

Biography

Lasha moved to California during the 1950s. In the 1960s, Prince Lasha was active in the burgeoning free jazz movement, of which his Fort Worth cohort Ornette Coleman was a pioneer. Lasha worked closely with saxophonist Sonny Simmons, with whom he recorded two albums, The Cry and Firebirds, for Contemporary Records. Lasha also appeared on recordings by Eric Dolphy (Iron Man) and the Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison Sextet (Illumination!). In the 1970s, Lasha and Simmons made additional recordings under the name Firebirds.

Partial discography

As leader or co-leader

• The Cry! - Contemporary Records, 1962
• Insight - CBS (UK only), 1966
• Firebirds with Sonny Simmons - Contemporary Records, 1967
• Firebirds, Live At The Berkeley Jazz Festival - Birdseye Records, 1974
• And Now Music - Daagnim Records, 1983
• The Mystery of Prince Lasha with the Odean Pope Trio - CIMP, 2005

As sideman

• Iron Man by Eric Dolphy - Douglas Records, 1963
• Illuminations! by the Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison Sextet - Impulse! Records, 1963

References

• Cook, Richard and Brian Morton. "Prince Lasha." The Penguin Guide to Jazz on Compact Disc. 3rd. ed. New York: Penguin Books USA, 1996. ISBN 0-14-051368-X
• Litweiler, John. Ornette Coleman: A Harmolodic Life. 1992. New York: Da Capo Press, 1994. ISBN 0-306-80580-4
• Nastos, Michael G. and Ron Wynn. "Prince Lasha." The All Music Guide to Jazz: the Best CDs, Albums, and Tapes. Ed. Ron Wynn, et al. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books, 1994. ISBN 0-87930-308-5

External links

• All Music Guide: Prince Lasha