The first time I came across Charles Lloyd was a recording of Forest Flower performed by Chico Hamilton, a composition which very much defines the man and the musician and gained something of a success among the Hippy Generation of the 1960s. There was something magical and alluring in the midst of that record. His Trane-like tone, the composition with its combination of modal and Afro-Cuban influences that seem to blend so effortlessly with each other. Forest Flower remains subtle, softly spoken and intensely meditative bordering on an eastern aesthetic of inner peace. Like most great compositions by jazzmen, he revisited again on concert and on record.

Perusing through a record store in California a few years ago I managed to get hold of a vinyl copy Charles Lloyd’s “Forest Flower: Live in Monterey”. This version surpassed the prior recording in duration and consisted of a different rhythm section of Keith Jarrett on the piano, Cecil Mcbee on the Bass and Jack Dejohnette on the drums. This recording had freer moments at that hands of Jarrett and the bass drums duo perfectly raise and lower the intensity across the different movements of the piece. Forest Flower is a live performance and it feels just like that, a live performance, with the group taking more risks and there is less stress upon creating a polished sound.

Charles Lloyd’s Quartet featuring Keith Jarrett, Ron Mcclure and Jack DeJohnette

Charles Lloyd was born in 1938 and started his career as a musician playing with such groups as Chico Hamilton, Gerald Wilson, Canonball Adderley etc. He also recorded with bands such as The Beach Boys and The Doors in the 1970s.

His solos are characterised by long soft notes which ascend in volume but only slightly. His soloing also has his trademark slurs, his tone is never aggressive but has the ability to captivate the listeners attention. All of this adds up to a voice that is his own and instantly recognisable.

He has amassed a wide discography which goes back to early 1960s with a number of records in his early career on the Atlantic label, but was in 1989 in which he started a long fruitful relationship with Manfred Eicher’s ECM label which he is still with today. He has managed to create 15 albums since starting with ECM and has played with a wide range of musicians such as Bobo Stenson, Billy Hart, Billy Higgins, Geri Allen, Dave Holland, John Abercrombie etc.

Documentary made in 2000 which shows his band live in Marciac

In 2010 he started a new quartet featuring a group younger musicians such as Jason Moran on the piano, Eric Harland on drums and Reuben Rogers on the Bass, the manifestation of that group was recorded on a quiet gem of an album entitled “Mirror”. This year saw them reunited to perform with Greek singer Maria Farantouri which includes an additional pianist and lyra player, Takis Farazi and Socratis Sinopoulos respectively, the album entitled ‘Athens Concert’.

Video about his latest Album ‘Athens Concert’

A Documentary on Charles Lloyd from 1967