Charles Lloyd still chasing sounds in his head.

[Hardbopjazz]

 

Charles Lloyd was on his way to becoming a jazz giant long before any jazz fans knew his name. Getting his first alto saxophone at 9, the Memphis native won an amateur contest at 10, and soon began taking lessons. A move to Los Angeles at 18 had him studying classical music by day, and sitting in with Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Charlie Haden, and others at night. A right-time, right-place situation led to a steady gig as player, composer, and music director in drummer Chico Hamilton’s band, and a switch from alto to tenor sax.

After leaving Hamilton, Lloyd did a stint in the Cannonball Adderley Sextet, then formed his own quartet with pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. That band’s 1966 album, “Forest Flower,” was one of the first jazz records to sell a million copies. Lloyd’s fearless improvisations, ranging from a soft whisper to a cacophonous roar, earned him rock-star status and gigs opening for Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the Grateful Dead.

But Lloyd walked away from music in 1970, settling in Big Sur to follow a spiritual path. He returned to the scene a decade later, and since the mid-1980s has been regularly touring and recording. His new Blue Note album, “I Long to See You,” features him on tenor and flute with his current band, the Marvels (Eric Harland, drums; Reuben Rogers, bass; Bill Frisell, guitar; Greg Leisz, pedal steel).

 

Full article

https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2016/01/27/sax-legend-lloyd-still-chasing-sound-head/80tB0PJYuRB2E5cMQ9Ua6K/story.html

[medjuck]

I saw Lloyd with Frisell and it was like a Bill Frisell concert with CharlesLloyd as guest-- which was fine with me, I like them both. 

[kh1958]

I was a bit skeptical of this group, but I must say I love the new CD (skipping the two vocals after a couple of listens). The blend of Leisz' steel guitar and Frisell is actually very nice, and Lloyd's  saxophone is  at its most beautiful on the record. I'm really looking forward to seeing the group (hopefully) in San Antonio in two weeks.   

[Gheorghe]

Charles Lloyd sure is a great musician. I heard him once and liked what they played, a very good group.

I remember when I was a kid, there was something like a Charles Lloyd hype. People had all his albums, more albums than Coltrane or Sonny Rollins. I think I remember I heard one or two with that great group with Jack DeJohnette and Keith, and dug it. But even then, and I still was almost a kid, I tried to find out what made him so great, so popular.
 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I've seen Charles Lloyd several times, each time coming away thinking, "Maybe I caught him on an off night". The time I saw him with Billy Higgins on drums was memorable for the fact that it was a band with Billy Higgins.

[Guy Berger]

8 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

I've seen Charles Lloyd several times, each time coming away thinking, "Maybe I caught him on an off night". The time I saw him with Billy Higgins on drums was memorable for the fact that it was a band with Billy Higgins.

He's hit and miss as a live performer.  Sometimes I've felt the way you describe; but I thought his playing during the WILD MAN DANCE performance at the Temple of Dendur in the spring of 2015 was outstanding.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Guy Berger

[felser]

Lloyd's 2015 album, 'Wild Man Dance',  is spectacular.  I've never been able to see him live.  He played at a community college near my house one time, and I was set to go, but something (don't remember what) happened to nix it, and I've always regretted that.  Pretty amazing career.

[kh1958]

I've seen him twice--in a duo with Gerald Clayton and in a quartet. The latter, at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival last year, was particularly inspired.

Wild Man Dance is a very nice recording.