Trios: Sacred Thread Charles Lloyd

• 1Desolation Sound03:19
• 2Guman04:13
• 3Nachekita's Lament09:23
• 4Saraswati01:54
• 5Kuti07:51
• 6Tales of Rumi08:48
• 7The Blessing03:25
• Total Runtime38:53

Info for Trios: Sacred Thread

Mit seinem „Trios“-Albumprojekt erfüllt sich Saxofonist Charles Lloyd einen ungewöhnlichen Traum: drei thematisch zusammenhängende Alben in jeweils unterschiedlichen Trio-Besetzungen, ein „Trio of Trios“. Das erste Album „Chapel“ nahm er mit Gitarrist Bill Frisell und Bassist Thomas Morgan auf, es folgte „Ocean“ mit Gitarrist Anthony Wilson und Pianist Gerald Clayton. „Sacred Thread“ mit Gitarrist Julian Lage und Schlagzeuger Zakir Hussain bildet jetzt den krönenden Abschluss.

Charles Lloyd ist seit langem ein Freigeist, Meistermusiker und Visionär. Seit mehr als sechs Jahrzehnten beherrscht der legendäre Saxophonist und Komponist die Musikwelt, und auch mit 84 Jahren ist er auf dem Höhepunkt seines Könnens und so produktiv wie eh und je. Schon früh erkannte Lloyd, dass die Einbettung des improvisierten Solos in interessante und originelle Kontexte eine größere Ausdrucksfreiheit hervorrufen und die Kreativität anregen kann.

Als Klangsucher hat Lloyds rastlose Kreativität vielleicht keinen größeren Ausdruck gefunden als in seinem jüngsten Meisterwerk, einem umfangreichen Projekt, das drei einzelne Alben umfasst, die ihn jeweils in einem anderen Trio-Setting präsentieren - einem Trio der Trios. Auf dem ersten, Trios: Chapel, zeigt Lloyd mit dem Gitarristen Bill Frisell und dem Bassisten Thomas Morgan. Das zweite, Trios: Ocean, mit dem Gitarristen Anthony Wilson und dem Pianisten Gerald Clayton. Das dritte, Trios: Sacred Thread, mit dem Gitarristen Julian Lage und dem Schlagzeuger Zakir Hussain.

Über sein Spiel in der Trio-Trilogie sagt Lloyd: "Wenn man in den Raum der Vertrautheit kommt, ist das sehr berauschend, man will mehr davon, und man will es finden. Auf dieser Suche nach dem Klang verschmilzt unsere Individualität mit der Universalität und irgendwie treffen wir uns. Dieses Wissen ist so mächtig, dass die Welt, wie wir sie kennen, irgendwie blass wird. Es ist nicht so einfach, zum Relativen zurückzukehren, wenn man im Absoluten war.

Charles Lloyo, aAlt- und Tenorsaxophon, Altflöte
Julian Lage, Gitarre
Zakir Hussain, Perkussion

Charles Lloyd
NEA Jazz Masters and recipient of the Ordre de Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, Charles Lloyd, continues to elevate the art form with each performance and recording. Born in Memphis, Tennessee March 15, 1938. From an early age, Lloyd was immersed in that city's rich musical life and was exposed to jazz. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 9. Pianist Phineas Newborn became his mentor, and took him to Irvin Reason for lessons. His closest friend in high school was trumpeter, Booker Little. Lloyd worked in Phineas Sr's band, and became a sideman in the Blues bands of B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Johnnie Ace, Bobbie "Blue" Bland, and others.

In 1956 Lloyd moved to Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California. During this period Lloyd played in Gerald Wilson's big band, and formed his own group that included Billy Higgins, Don Cherry, Bobby Hutcherson, Scott LAFaro, and Terry Trotter. Lloyd joined Chico Hamilton in 1960. His influence as a composer quickly pushed the group in a more progressive post-bop direction when Hamilton asked him to be the group's "music director." In 1964 Lloyd left Hamilton's group to join alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. He recorded two albums as a leader for Columbia Records, Discovery and Of Course, Of Course; his sidemen included Gabor Szabo, Don Friedman, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Pete La Roca. In 1965 Lloyd formed a quartet with pianist, Keith Jarrett, bassist, Cecil McBee, drummer, Jack DeJohnette. It was a meeting of of straight-ahead post-bop, Free jazz, rock, and world music. Their music quickly caught the attention of jazz fans and critics. They achieved crossover success with young rock fans and became the first jazz group to play in the famed Fillmore. The album Forest Flower, Live at Monterey, sold over one million copies.

When approached by pianist, Michel Petrucciani in 1981, he resumed performing for two years to help Petrucciani get a footing on the world stage, before retreating again to his secluded life in Big Sur. Following a near death experience in 1986, Lloyd decided to rededicate himself to music. In 1989, Lloyd reestablished an active touring schedule and began recording for ECM Records. Noteworthy albums include Fish Out of Water, Canto, Voice In The Night, The Water Is Wide (featuring Brad Mehldau, John Abercrombie, Larry Grenadier and Billy Higgins) Sangam with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland.

His 'New Quartet' with Jason Moran, piano, Reuben Rogers, bass and Eric Harland, drums has three recordings on ECM; Rabo de Nube (2008 ) was voted #1 recording for the 2008 Jazz Times Reader's and Critic's Poll, and Mirror ( 2010 ) and Passin’ Thru on Blue Note Records (2017). Commissioned by Jazztopad in Wroclaw, Poland to write a new composition to premiere at their 2013 festival, Lloyd wrote Wild Man Dance Suite for piano, bass, drums, cimbalom and lyra, released on Blue Note Records in April 2015. Lloyd formed a new group called The Marvels featuring Bill Frisell on guitar, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland and Greg Leisz on steel guitar. Their first release I Long To See You (Blue Note 2016) featured guest tracks by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. Vanished Gardens ( Blue Notes Records 2018 ) is a Marvels collaboration with the great American singer and poet, Lucinda Williams.

Jazztopad Festival created two additional and important commissions for Lloyd – the 2017 project titled Red Waters, Black Sky, was an homage to his great grandmother Sallie Sunflower Whitecloud, who refused to walk the Trail of Tears and all of the indigenous people who had their homelands taken away from them. This multi media project, project was written for string quartet, choir and the Marvels. The lush arrangements were written by Michael Gibbs. Lloyd’s wife Dorothy Darr created the video that became the backdrop for the performance. In 2019, Jazztopad requested a new performance of the Wildman Dance Suite, this time with orchestra. Michael Gibbs, again, wrote the arrangements and the resulting performance was a resounding success.

In celebration of his 80th birthday in 2018, Blue Note Records released a limited edition box set; 8, Kindred Spirits, Live from the Lobero featured fellow Memphian, Booker T. Jones. The box set includes CD, LP and DVD of the concert along with a 96 page book of photos commemorating Lloyd’s life and legacy. His newest recording, the sixth for Blue Note Records (2021) is Tone Poem, and once again, features the Marvels.

This album contains no booklet.