Both members of the all-star group The Cookers, pianist George Cables and saxophonist Azar Lawrence beat the winter blues with their take on Freddie Hubbard’s classic standard “Up Jumped Spring.”

Our Alone Together series is a celebration of spontaneous creation, presenting exclusive and unrehearsed duo performances captured live in the intimacy of the SFJAZZ Center. Whether they’re longtime collaborators or meeting on stage for the first time, these world class artists are improvisors of the highest level, creating powerful musical dialogues in the moment.

Both members of the all-star group The Cookers, pianist George Cables and saxophonist Azar Lawrence beat the winter blues with their take on Freddie Hubbard’s classic standard “Up Jumped Spring.”

Written by Hubbard while a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and first appearing on Blakey’s 1962 Blue Note release “3 Blind Mice,” “Up Jumped Spring" is a bedrock part of the jazz standards repertoire, having been recorded by the likes of Benny Golson, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, and Curtis Fuller, among many others.

Tenor great Azar Lawrence was a longtime collaborator with McCoy Tyner and released a series of masterful albums as a leader beginning in the early 70s.

Pianist George Cables is one of jazz’s most enduring composers and performers, leading over 20 albums and working with Dexter Gordon, Bobby Hutcherson and Joe Henderson.

Cables is a founding member of The Cookers, and has been a steady presence on their albums and concert dates since their 2010 debut. Lawrence is a more recent addition, making his first SFJAZZ appearance with the band in 2025.

Personnel:

George Cables: piano
Azar Lawrence: tenor saxophone