Legendary Charles Lloyd and rising star Gerald Clayton proved that less can be a lot more, as the duo delivered a gorgeous 80 minute evening of post bop jazz sonatas that was the apotheosis of intimacy and musical conversation.
The two have toured together for years in a quartet form, so the depth of the relationship was almost on an esp level . Lloyd, one of the few successful representative of the softer and more reflective side of the freer side of jazz, started things off by joyfully confessing “I’m still in love with this music.” It was in wonderful evidence as his fluffy tenor sax sighed and cried while Clayton gave delicate Ellingtonian support on Billy Strayhorn’s melancholic “Blood Count.” With Clayton in full ten fingered stride, Lloyd brooded in blue “Defiant” before creating long and dark full moon shadows on “Part 5 Ruminations.” Clayton, using both the ivories and piano strings plucked and struck to create sounds that go bump in the night, as if walking through a cemetery at midnight as Lloyd gasped the mood to a close.
The two explored the more melodic and lyrical side of life with Lloyd going bel canto on a glorious “Rabo de Nube” and then agonizing through a reflective “I Fall In Love Too Easily” with Clayton lurking in the background creating regretful daydream memories.
Switching over to flute, Lloyd floated over Claytons funky soul groove on “Booker’s Garden” like a pelican swooping over white caps searching for a meal to pluck. Picking up some shakers instruments, Lloyd then added extra flavor to the percussion discussion, taking the song to a celebrative climax.
For an encore, Clayton introduced “Blow Wind” with impressionistic and precious meditations, as Lloyd’s tenor sounded like a prayer before dawn. This mood lead perfectly to a reverent rendition of the hymn “Abide With Me” that brought the crowd to an intimate Sunday Morning atmosphere. Then, just as Lloyd was about to walk off stage, Clayton showed that he wasn’t finished with the evening, as he stayed seated at the piano bench as if he still had something to say.
And he definitely did, causing his notes to plea on a deeply personal “La Llorona” that simply wouldn’t let go, finally bringing Lloyd in to add passionate pleadings with a closing visceral subtone, sounding like the final foam of a receding wave.
Lloyd commented that “We need more sages; you can’t save drowning people if you can’t swim.” This evening the octogenarian threw the packed house a musical life preserver. As someone in the audience told me, “It was like hearing the peace of God.” There’s still hope in this musical world, another reason to celebrate Thanksgiving over the weekend.
Upcoming shows sponsored by The Jazz Bakery include Carmen Lundy 12/02, Kurt Elling 12/14 and Judy Wolman’s Sing Sing Sing 12/22