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Charles Lloyd and The Marvels: I Long to See You
ByLloyd and Frisell are a logical pairing, sharing as they do an abiding curiosity for musical exploration across genres. For Lloyd, playing with the Beach Boys in the 1970s and latter-day collaborations with Greek vocalist Maria Farantouri (Athens Concert, ECM, 2011), or the lyra and cimbalom-colored suite of Wild Man Dance (Blue Note, 2015) have proven as natural excursions as Frisell's own forays into popular music with Elvis Costello (Deep Dead Blue, Nonesuch, 1995) 'world' rhythms with The Intercontinentals (Nonesuch, 2003) or country music with Nashville (Nonesuch, 1997). The wonder is perhaps that their paths hadn't previously crossed.
Lloyd turns back the clock on Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" and "Of Course, Of Course"tracks the saxophonist first recorded in the 1960s. On the former, Rogers' brooding bass underpins Lloyd's burrowing intensity, while Frisell and Liesz conjure more subtle airs. Frisell's closing loops ring like some dystopian air-raid siren on this atmospheric anti-war anthem. On the latter tune, Lloyd's sunny flute and electric bass together rekindle flower-power era optimism. Taken at a slower tempo than the original version, the meat is provided by Frisell and Liesz' interweaving dialog over Harland's industry.
Likewise, "La Llorona" (The Crying Woman) revisits the past, previously recorded on Mirror (ECM, 2010); Frisell and Leisz' gently emotive waves propel Lloyd to an aching solo, beautiful in its economy and simplicity. Equally heartfelt is "Shenandoah," with caressing interventions from Lloyd, Frisell and Leisz. "Sombrero Sam" injects some nicely off-kilter blues, with Frisell orchestrating a solo like a Mexican Thelonious Monk; Lloyd's alto flute response steers this quirky, jaunty tune into danceable territory.
The mellow mood is restored on the lovely "All My Trials"a popular folk protest song of the 1950s and 1960s. Leisz's sliding notes evoke the original Bahamian lullaby, though its Lloyd's purring tenor that sticks in the memory. A brief rendition of "Abide with Me"sans bass and drumsis sandwiched between two vocal tracks sung respectively by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. Nelson's soulful gravitas on Ed McCurdy's much-covered anti-war anthem "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream," contrasts nicely with Jones' susurrus lyricism on the Billy Preston/Bruce Fisher song "You Are So Beautiful"popularized by Joe Cockerwhich brims with the feel of tender, late-night intimacy.
Lloyd's most personal statement, however, is the Buddhist-inspired incantation "Barche Lamsel," an epic ensemble mosaic that finely balances elegance and drama throughout its sixteen-minute duration; Lloyd's transition from flute to tenor sparks the quintet's flame, the music swelling into something grand yet strangely meditative.
I Long To See You is a consistently beautiful offeringanother sure arrow into infinity from Lloyd.
Track Listing
Masters of War; Of Course of Course; La Llorona; Shenandoah; Sombrero Sam; All My Trials; Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream; Abide with Me; You Are So Beautiful; Barche Lamsel.
Personnel
Charles Lloyd
saxophoneCharles Lloyd: sax tenore, flauto; Bill Frisell: chitarra; Greg Leisz: chitarra slide; Reuben Rogers: contrabbasso; Eric Harland: batteria. Ospiti: Willie Nelson, Norah Jones: voce.
Album information
Title: I Long to See You | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Blue Note Records
Comments
About Charles Lloyd
Instrument: Saxophone
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