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Ronnie Laws

The younger brother of Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws has a nice soulful sound on tenor, but has never seriously pursued playing jazz. Throughout his career, which includes early-'70s gigs with Quincy Jones, his brother, Ramsey Lewis, and Earth, Wind & Fire, Laws has essentially been an R&B player. He has led his own albums since 1975, but recorded very little of interest to the jazz world, although he is often listed on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.

In 1970 he moved to Los Angeles, where he found work under the tutelage of such legendary talents as The Jazz Crusaders and Hugh Masakela. His formative training also included stints with Jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr. and organist Doug Cann. He was a member of the 70’s much-revered soul group Earth Wind and Fire, where he played tenor and soprano sax for a two-year stint, before finally venturing out to pursue a solo career.

Assisted by immortal Jazz great Donald Byrd, he soon signed his first recording contract with Blue Note records, resulting in the impressive debut album Pressure Sensitive (1975), produced by family friend, Wayne Henderson, (a founding member of the contemporary jazz pioneers The Crusaders), which rapidly emerged to become the longest selling album, at that time, in the 42 year history of the label. Pressure Sensitive, was followed up by his second album Fever (1976).

Controversy quickly erupted around him, with so called Jazz “purist”, criticizing Laws’ inventive, non- traditional, “Jazz Fusion” style. Laws promptly answered his critics by also scoring unprecedented cross-over success in R&B and Pop, in addition to Jazz, and receiving multiple awards for originality in the process.

Laws is a proven natural at combining the exploratory heart of Jazz with the broader reaching strains of Soul and Pop music. His first hit, “Always There” (credited as Ronnie Laws and Pressure on the original 45), was one of the most popular, sax-driven, cross-over hits of the 70’s Jazz-Funk Fusion era. He ushered in the sensualization of the soprano sax with Quiet Storm gems such as “Grace”, “Karmen”, and “Just Love”. Pressure Sensitive, Fever, and Friends and Strangers (Blue Note 1978), the title track of his third album, all propelled to gold status.

Ronnie Laws: Finding His New Groove

by Belinda Ware
September 14, 2017

Ronnie Laws is a passionate musician who finds joy in discovering new music in moments of reflection or jamming with his peers. When it comes to creating new music, he makes it a point to test new ideas exploring dimensions of fusing jazz with modern R&B while staying true to his signature sound. Laws' journey of musical discovery began to take shape during the time he started playing saxophone with the Jazz Crusaders, Hugh Masakela and super group ...

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Album Review

Ronnie Laws: Harvest For The World

by AAJ Staff
June 1, 1998

On many occasions, Ronnie Laws hasn't hesitated to stoop to musical prostitution and record mindless, knee-jerk “elevator muzak" for the “smooth jazz" market. But the tenor & soprano saxman showed signs of repentance in 1996, when he recorded the soul-jazz gem A Tribute To The Legendary Eddie Harris. Saluting one of his main influences, Laws demonstrated that he could still be a riveting improviser and delivered his best album in 20 years. But sadly, Laws' fling with quality was too ...

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Album Review

Ronnie Laws: Tribute To The Legendary Eddie Harris

by AAJ Staff
July 1, 1997

Ronnie Laws showed considerable promise on his early albums of the mid-1970s, but in the 80s and 90s, the tenor & soprano saxman often wasted his improvisatory skills on overproduced, vapid NAC and lightweight “smooth jazz" fluff. A welcome return to his jazz/funk and “soul jazz" roots, Tribute To The Legendary Eddie Harris is Laws' strongest release since 1976's Fever.

Paying tribute to the late Chi-Town sax hero, Laws gives himself plenty of room to blow on ...

Performance / Tour

Walter Beasley, Ronnie Laws, Willie Bradley At McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square On June 9th

Source: Art and Health Awareness Foundation, Inc.
May 24, 2017

Friday, June 9, 2017 at 8:00 pm Ticket Price: $45 McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square 345 N. College St Charlotte, NC 28202 Featuring Walter Beasley, Ronnie Laws, Willie Bradley and Shawn Marie Allen. Walter Beasley acclaimed saxophonist and vocalist intended to teach for just one year after graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Beasley’s professorship spanned nearly 30 years: He admits getting hooked when he saw students grasp the musical prowess he was imparting. ...
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Performance / Tour

Ronnie Laws plays the Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia on July 3rd

Source: Michael Ricci
July 3, 2014

PHILADELPHIA — Jazz saxophonist Ronnie Laws takes the stage for two shows at the Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia on July 3rd at 7:00PM and 9:30PM. The shows mark Laws first appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe and the start of the veteran artist's east coast tour. Philly pop/R&B singer Ty “TheGuy" Ward will open the shows, with Grammy winner Cee Knowledge serving as host for the night. Tickets are $30 in advance online via Ticketfly.com or $35 at the door. ...
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Performance / Tour

Tom Browne-Ronnie Laws Play Ronnie Scotts, London

Source: Tom Browne
February 4, 2011

Jazz has always drawn nourishment from dance rhythms, yet needs to be careful it doesn't drown in them. The fusion of waspish keyboards and funkadelic bass that saxophonist Ronnie Laws surfed to crossover success came close to that dangerous point, but on his best recordings and especially in live performance he could conjure soulful licks and trenchant lines with the enterprise and power of the best soul singers. This gig twinned him with trumpeter Tom Browne—his “Funkin' for Jamaica" is ...
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Performance / Tour

Ronnie Laws Concert at the Sheldon Canceled

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
June 15, 2009

According to the Sheldon Concert Hall's Web site, the concert by saxophonist Ronnie Laws scheduled for this Wednesday, June 17, at the hall has been canceled. There's no reason given, nor any information about refunds for tickets already purchased.The show was to have benefited the scholarship fund of the National Black MBA Association - St. Louis Chapter, but as of late Sunday night, there's nothing at all about the cancellation on their site. In fact, a search for ...
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Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: A Few Minutes with Ronnie Laws

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
June 13, 2009

This week, let's take a look at some video clips featuring saxophonist Ronnie Laws, who will be in town this coming Wednesday, June 17, to perform at the Sheldon Concert Hall in a show benefiting the National Black MBA Association - St. Louis Chapter's college scholarship fund.The Houston, Texas native is from a musical family, and his siblings include the fine jazz flute player Hubert Laws. His first break was ...
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Performance / Tour

Ronnie Laws, the Cunninghams Coming to the Sheldon This Summer

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
May 6, 2009

The Sheldon Concert Hall has added a couple of jazz shows to its summer schedule:* Saxophonist Ronnie Laws (pictured at left) and singer Dee Brown will perform at the Sheldon on Wednesday, June 17 in a concert commemorating the 25th anniversary of the National Black MBA Association - St. Louis Chapter. Laws, a native of Houston, TX and the brother of flute player Hubert Laws, is perhaps known for his hit song “Always There" and has been performing ...
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