From The Showboat to The Nobel Prize Ceremoney
William E Donoghue | Healdsburg CA USA | 11/17/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is where my relationship with Charles Lloyd and Keith Jarrett started for me. Keith, I had heard of, had been playing with a local band in the Allentown PA area when I was at Lehigh University; so, I was anxious to hear him. Charles blew me away and I now own ALL of his records.
Next month, Charles Lloyd will be playing at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony and I have heard him live twice in the past two years He's a genius and he was when he made this album. Incidently did you know he started playing sax with Howlin' Wolf in West Memphis AR? He's no bluesman today but he touches my soul when he plays."
A great vibe, a great group
G B | Connecticut | 12/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Dream Weaver was the debut recording of the classic Charles Lloyd quartet, a group that made some nice albums and achieved major crossover success in the late 60s but today is remembered primarily for launching the careers of Keith Jarrett and Jack DeJohnette. Dream Weaver reminds us that while all four musicians (the great Cecil Mcbee rounds out the group on bass) had great things ahead of them in 1966, they were perfectly capable of making excellent music even back then.
Dream Weaver draws comfortably from the entire spectrum of jazz in 1966 -- post-bebop, free jazz, soul jazz, and even some nascent jazz-rock. The quartet swings like crazy on "Autumn Leaves", which Lloyd bookends with two impressionistic collective improvisations. Lloyd's solo on "Leaves" reminds us what a great flute player he is, DeJohnette's brushwork is impeccable, and Jarrett's solo is one of his finest from the period. The title track opens with the Coltraneish "Meditation" before locking into a chunky groove on "Dervish Dance". "Bird Flight", a fast-paced post-bop tune, showcases Lloyd's fondness for intense tenor-drum duets as well as some ripping avant-garde playing by Jarrett. "Love Ship" is a ballad and "Sombrero Sam" rides a funky, dancing boogaloo groove.
I haven't heard all of this group's albums, but I'd put this one ahead of Soundtrack, Love-In and even the enormously popular Forest Flower. Lloyd's playing, which is occasionally erratic on the quartet's albums, is quite strong and fiery here. He also plays a lot of flute. Those used to the more laid-back, introspective ECM albums Lloyd has recorded since the late 80s might be pleasantly surprised."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1