Search - Charles Lloyd :: Soundtrack / In the Soviet Union

An often overlooked master

The Mascara Snake | Deepintheheartof Appalachia | 05/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charles Lloyd is THE man that helped me understand what the Tenor sax is all about. Of course, I apprecieated Coltrane, Rollins, and the like, but, I never really HEARD the voice of the tenor (or the sax in general) until I heard "Dream Weaver". Likewise, I had tried to listen to Keith Jarrett's later work, but could never really enjoy him until I heard him play with the "classic" Lloyd quartet. It's a real shame that, despite the success this band achieved in the 60's, most people aren't familliar with Mr. Lloyd. His recent offerings (of the last 10-15 yrs.) for Manfred Eicher and ECM have been really superb, (after a long retirement brought about by too many drugs and such during the 60's/70's) but to really appreciate the man you have to go back to his earlier works (his work with the Cannonball Adderley band of the mid 60's is also very good) and this album looks like a great deal. The picture of him playing on the cover should give you an Idea of what's in store. The USSR gig is very energetic (it gets pretty "out" at times, thanks largely to My main man Jack D. and the ever warbling Keith Jarrett) but, also has some very beautiful moments as well. I haven't yet heard the "soundtrack album" (I've got a vinyl copy of the USSR gig) but I'm familiar with several other of this band's live albums (there were quite a few: "Love In", "Forest Flower", "In Europe" etc.) and all I have heard so far have been high quality, and diverse enough in material that I can justify owning all I can get my hands on. That being said, I've found the Soviet Union album to be one of my all time favourites and highly recomend it to anyone who is into any kind of modern jazz, (Coltrane, Coleman, Hard or Post Be-Bop etc.) Mr. Lloyd is one of the few living masters left from these eras, and I'm glad he has made such an impression on me."