COMPOSERS: Charles Lloyd
LABELS: Resonance
ALBUM TITLE: Manhattan Stories
PERFORMER: Charles Lloyd (saxophone & flute), Ron Carter (bass), Gábor Szabó (guitar) etc
CATALOGUE NO: HCD-2016
This release unearths two live concerts from 1965. In July, Lloyd ended an 18-month stint with Cannonball Adderley, during which time he made two admirable but not earth-shaking LPs of his own for Columbia. One of these, Of Course, Of Course, featured Carter and Szabó who joined his new quartet: they broke house records at Slugs’ Saloon in Greenwich Village, a concert represented here on disc two.
The first disc was recorded in September 1965 at Judson Hall, a more formal venue than Slugs’, but the music has just as much creative edge. It’s clear that Lloyd is on the verge of a major breakthrough. Seven months later he recorded Dream Weaver for Atlantic and the rest, mega-success by jazz standards, is legend.
Bassist Carter is on majestic form, and guitarist Szabó produces some of his best work. This release fills in a significant gap in Lloyd’s recorded catalogue: it’s history in the making.
Barry Witherden