Charles Lloyd delivered a 90 minute summary of his career with his team of Gerald Clayton/p, Reuben Rogers/b and Kendrick Scott/dr. Playing from start to finish the 6 piece Wild Man Suite from his latest album, Lloyd delivered moods and styles from all of the artists he’s played with, ranging from Howlin’ Wolf to BB King to Bobby “Blue” Bland and Cannonball Adderley. The presentation was like a sonic kaleidoscope, with Lloyd and company taking you on a ride through the past, present and future of jazz.
His soft and fluffy tone on “Flying Over the Odra Valley” was gently supported by Clayton’s lilting piano and Reuben’s bowed bass, with Scott supplying a laconic cadence in which finally the tenor sax receded like an evening tide. A bluesy groove provided a seque that slowly percolated like volcanic ash until Lloyd started a vintage bop melody while Scott and Clayton chimed in with joy. Scott switched to mallets to create a soft pilaf for Lloyd’s dreamy melancholia before Scott snapped everyone to attention with a crisp drum solo to end the first part of the suite.
Reuben then began the second half with a meditative bowed bass solo that created mournful middle eastern harmonies before everyone else joined in for some kinetic and feisty interplay that was free yet within a form. Even when the music moves a bit outside, Lloyd never squawks or squeals, his influence of Coltrane’s spi ritual pursuit is more of a reflection of a man at peace than one who is searching.
The driving conclusion lead to three encores which resulted in a sensuous latin piece with Lloyd’s flute floating like a dove over the scintillating rhythm, a hip little bopper and Lloyd delivering a sermon on tenor during a wondrously reflective “Come Sunday.” As he stated at the end of the concert, “My music is about freedom, love, truth and wonder.” All themes were checked off on this panoramic set on a warm fall evening.
Next event sponsored by the Bakery is Alan Holdsworth Oct 24.