Prince Lasha

William B. Lawsha, better known as Prince Lasha , (September 10, 1929 – December 12, 2008) and the Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison Sextet featuring McCoy Tyner (Illumination!, also in 1963).

Lasha moved to Europe and in 1966 was based in Kensington, London, The album Insight (1966) by the Prince Lasha Ensemble was recorded in England and featured local musicians, including Bruce Cale, Dave Willis, Jeff Clyne, Rick Laird, Joe Oliver (drums), David Snell (harp), Mike Carr, Stan Tracey, John Mumford (trombone) and Chris Bateson (trumpet).

Returning to the US in 1967, Lasha worked closely with saxophonist Sonny Simmons, with whom he recorded two albums, The Cry! (1962) and Firebirds (1967), for Contemporary Records. The latter album received five stars and an AMG Albumpick at Allmusic.

In the 1970s, Lasha and Simmons made additional recordings under the name Firebirds. In 2005, Lasha recorded the album The Mystery of Prince Lasha with the Odean Pope Trio. Firebirds, Live at the Berkeley Jazz Festival Vol. 2 (Birdseye series 99001, 1974) (also released as Search for Tomorrow (Enja 4008, 1982))