Album Review for CHARLES LLOYD & THE MARVELS + LUCINDA WILLIAMS – Vanished Gardens
Release on Blue Note
There are times like this when it soon becomes clear that whilst not a blues album in the traditional sense, the music is so inspirational and original that you want to hear it over and over again and recommend it to everyone whatever their musical persuasion.
The legendary and visionary American saxophonist and composer Lloyd celebrates his 80th birthday this year, having started out in Memphis as a 12-year-old playing alongside Bobby Blue Bland, B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf.
Subsequently, he studied modern classical music, performed with The Doors and Grateful Dead, finally establishing himself as an award-winning jazz master and Memphis Music Hall Of Fame inductee in 2016.
The lead single from this collaboration with Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams is the gospel-infused We’ve Come Too Far To Turn Around.
On all her contributions, Dust, Ventura, Unsuffer Me, and the Hendrix classic, Angel, Williams’ singing is evocative and emotional, her lyrics poetic and inspirational.
What will appeal to blues fans is the weaving together of several threads of music including jazz, blues, Americana and country rock.
In addition to the vocal tracks are three new Lloyd originals and magnificent versions of Thelonious Monk’s Monk’s Mood and Roberta Flack’s Ballad Of The Sad Young Men.
The gripping, sublime title track is thrilling and inventive music almost without definition and with immense heights of expression thanks to the talented Marvels who thrive in settings such as this.
Album Review by THE BISHOP
More Info at – CHARLES LLOYD
