Charles Lloyd - Lift Every Voice

BlueMiles · January-26th-2005, 08:19 PM

I did a search. There seems to be no thread on this find album.

BlueMiles · January-26th-2005, 08:46 PM

I had been curious about "Lift Every Voice" since its release, and I recently managed to get a steal on it at Amazon.com. Lloyd, mostly on tenor sax but playing some flute and other instruments, comes across like the son (or younger brother) of Coltrane, especially in terms of that yearning, spiritual quality. I've heard this album was a response to 9-11. There are quite a fit spirituals on this double CD, pop songs (a phenomenal "What's Going On"), intense blues, long meditative pieces, deep grooves, and marvelously empathetic musicianship. A two-CD studio release is a rare thing, and this one pays off with its embarrasment of riches. Charles Lloyd should not be missed.

John Abecrombie continues his great partnership with Lloyd. He has a long stretch of atmospheric playing to open the record, and dig his old times blues meets fusion on “East Virginia, West Memphis.” Geri Allen is in great form. You’ll be stunned by her work on “Go Down Moses.” The fine bassists are Marc Johnson and Larry Grenadier. And Billy Hart is a force on drums--quite distinctive, yet at times conjuring the spirit of Billy Higgins.

Upstateaudio · February-5th-2005, 02:52 PM

Great album. Very quiet yet uplifting. Highly recommended.

February-6th-2005, 03:37 PM

I want to get this one. But, Lloyd has a tendency to get too spaced out/introspective/self indulgent for me sometimes. I like him when he plays sorta straight ahead, and his blues.

[Anybody know off the top of his/her head which recording has his, I believe, "Memphis Blues" that he recorded many years ago. (There are a lot of, now considered, clichés in it that I'd like to cop.

) ]

Gentle Giant · February-8th-2005, 09:57 AM

Love it.
Really love it.
Really, really love it.
Really, really, really love it.
Really, really love it.
Really love it.
Love it.

BlueMiles · February-8th-2005, 04:30 PM

There you go...I guess Gentle Giant loves it!

The opening cut, "Hymn to the Mother," is very long, spacy, and meditative. But afterwards this is a highly accessible album, with spirituals, ballads, jazzy stuff, and blues. The only other piece that really clocks in at over 10 minutes is a great version of "Go Down Moses"--sounds a lot like the Coltrane Quartet.

frankiepop · February-18th-2005, 05:09 AM

it's a good cd. frankly, i dont think they sound anything like the coltrane quartet. however, you can hear Lloyd on the bbc Radio 3
fri feb 18 around 4 or 5 gmt or about 8 or 10 eastern.
i think

the show: Jazz Legends
Julian Joseph talks to saxophonist Lloyd, whose late 60s quartet with Keith Jarrett found favor with the Woodstock generation.