Charles Lloyd: Just Before Sunrise

Paula Edelstein

Recent articles (36 total)

Published: July 1, 1999

Just Before Sunrise is classic Charles Lloyd reissued in a series produced by Joel Dorn for The Masked Announcer. For those of you that love and remember the original 1966 recordings of DREAM WEAVER and LOVE-IN, this box set is a burning reminder of the afterglow left by Lloyd’s great flute and tenor sax playing. The debut of the Dream Weaver quartet — Lloyd doubling on flute and tenor sax, Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums, introduced jazz fans to an intense display of hard bop intertwined with dynamic improvisations. Lloyd’s melodic flute suite “Autumn Sequence,”opens the set with “Autumn Prelude,” a dynamic cover of “Autumn Leaves,” and a classic flute coda on “Autumn Echo.” “Dream Weaver” a thematic movement consisting of “Meditation,” a heavy Coltrane-influenced piece, spotlights a prayerful Lloyd on sax and the captivating “Dervish Dance,” treates listeners to rhythmic excellence and stimulating solos by Lloyd on sax and ! Keith Jarrett on piano.

The Lloyd treasure box is complete with the inclusion of LOVE-IN, originally recorded “live” in 1967 at The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California. Ron McClure replaces Cecil McBee on bass, as the quartet continues to communicate the primary language of the ‘60s — peace and love. “Tribal Dance,” a joyous dance that strikes a communal chord within many hearts to this day and “Love-In,” an inspired song full of the spirit that Lloyd’s quartet has delighted many an audience with, leaves you with a special reminder and insight of the times and the personification of musical unity. JUST BEFORE SUNRISE is a must for any collection and a classy reminder of Charles Lloyd’s ability to bridge any generation gap. FIVE STARS.

Record Label: 32 Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream