It’s the 34th annual Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. MAGNET’s Mitch Myers translates the action.
The Festival International De Jazz De Montreal celebrates many things, but none more than tradition. Tradition in music can take many forms, and this strange connective tissue that somehow links one artistic statement (or person) to another is considered something of great value. So it is only fitting that veteran saxophonist Charles Lloyd was presented with the festival’s 2013 Miles Davis Award and is also the featured artist of its hallowed Invitation Series—a string of concerts where the artist hosts a different group of handpicked musicians to perform with each night. This is the 25th year for the Invitation Series, and Lloyd’s lengthy, inspired career certainly allows for a range of performances. Born in Memphis back in 1936, he has worked with everyone from B.B. King to the Beach Boys, as well as spending serious time with Cannonball Adderley, Chico Hamilton, Gabor Szabo, Keith Jarrett and many, many other jazz giants.
For the festival’s opening night, Lloyd brought out his current touring band of young all-stars, consisting of pianist Jason Moran, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland. Mr. Lloyd has long been influenced by the trailblazing sound of John Coltrane’s famous quartet, and his tenor saxophone playing can be both towering and intense. Ever the free-associating beatnik-hipster (Lloyd spent the ’70s semi-retired in Big Sur), he went off on extreme musical tangents before bringing it all back home. As per usual, he embraced each tune like it was a totally religious experience and drew influences from jazz, R&B and world music of the past century.
While Lloyd may lack some of the aural intensity he first displayed back in the 1960s, he is still a highly emotive player who can cut you right to the core. Switching back and forth from tenor to soprano saxophone and flute, Lloyd was both focused and playful. A thoughtful, supportive bandleader, he also gave plenty of room to his supporting cast—backing off and throwing the spotlight on killer drummer Eric Harland and, most often, pianist Jason Moran.
The show had many sparkling moments and was a moving, energetic, post-bop affair, but the absolute highlight was Lloyd’s balladic performance of “Somewhere.” Stripped down to its melodic essence, this old standard from West Side Story was reborn in the hands of a grand master—filled with knowing tenderness and hard-fought wisdom. At age 75, Charles Lloyd is still vital and commanding onstage. You are hereby advised to catch one of his memorable live performances—somehow, some day, somewhere.
