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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLASHA, Prince(b William B. Lasha, 10 September 1929, Fort Worth TX; d 11 December 2008 Oakland CA) Flute, reeds, composer. The surname is pronounced Lashay. He was a childhood friend of Ornette Coleman; they worked together in the 1940s. Lasha worked in territory bands, went to the West Coast and worked with alto saxophonist Sonny Simmons (b 4 August 1933, Sicily Island LA; grew up in Oakland CA): they formed a free jazz band and made The Cry '62 and Firebirds '67, both on Contemporary, and Firebirds Vol. 3 '77 (live at Monterey Jazz Festival) on Birdseye, the last two including Bobby Hutcherson, Buster Williams and drummer Charles Moffett (also from Fort Worth). Journey To Zoar c.'80 on Enja (also called Search For Tomorrow in USA Schwann catalogue) also used Hutcherson and Williams. Search For Tomorrow: Firebirds Vol 2 '74 (live At Berkeley Jazz Festival) was made with a different band including Ron Carter. Firebirds live at Berkeley '77 on Birdseye had the regular group, except Simmons was replaced by tenorist/flautist Hadley Caliman (b 12 January 1932, Idabel OK, d 9 September 2010; own albums on Mainstream); Firebirds Featuring [vocalist] Webster Armstrong '83 on Daagnim was a different group again. Lasha also made a CBS LP in London '66 with an octet including Stan Tracey and Mike Carr on some tracks; in NYC a quartet set Inside Story '65 on Enja with Herbie Hancock, Cecil McBee and drummer Jimmy Lovelace; he also led a band at Birdland and recorded with Eric Dolphy, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison. Simmons recorded with Dolphy and Jones; his own albums were on Contemporary, ESP, Arhoolie, on CIMP in the mid-'90s. |