Jumping the Creek

Charles Lloyd | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B0007KIGIQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,050 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While this is a quartet recording, some of the most thrilling moments on the disc are when the four members are interacting in pairs. The title track opens with drummer Eric Harland and Lloyd, the bass enters briefly, and then only the trap set continues in duet with pianist Geri Allen. Lloyd's compositions move from post-bop melodicism ("Ken Katta Ma Om") to the seemingly ancient bearing of folk-like figures ("Angel Oak Revisited"). Allen in particular is a stimulating springboard for the leader. She has played with him since the beginning of this decade, and the breadth of playing is showcased in the new writing. The sheer variety of this set is stunning, as the quartet steps from continent to continent with intoxicating confidence. --David Greenberger

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press, April 5, 2005

The music he now makes is challenging, beautiful and accessible.

Charles Lloyd's finest disc in a decade or more.

Overall, the performances of Mr. Lloyd are sheer delight and, as in the solos, he plays, quite literally, with love.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charles Lloyd brilliant as ever, April 7, 2005

By 

K. Shishkin "serenity" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jumping the Creek (Audio CD)

I was somewhat surpised after listening to this album, probably, because I have been listening to Lloyd's "safer" records lately (Water is Wide and Hyppernion with Higgins - two highly recommended albums).

Nonetheless, I was shocked after I listened to first track. Lloyd's take on Brel's "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is absoultely stunning. There are no good words to describe it. You will just have to listen to it.

Perhaps a good preparation for this album is Lloyd's last year release "Which way is east". Much like that recording, "Jumping the creek" is on the experimental side. Lloyd improvises on the seemingly endless shores of his imagination, and members of his quartet are understanding and willing to go on the journey. Allen does some outstanding playing on "Ken Katta Ma Om".

For a personal favorite I select "The Sufi's Tears". Lloyd plays tarngato, evoking the oriental motives and bringing the listener to a completely different place. "Jumping the creek", the title composition, brings the musicians together in a whirlwind of improvisation.

This album definetely marks a new high in Lloyd's career. Beautiful and evocative- stunning, "Jumping the creek" is a marvel.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Charles Lloyd's Best Albums Ever, April 5, 2005

By 

douglas mosher "[e-mail]" (Los Gatos, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jumping the Creek (Audio CD)

This brand new album is a welcome addition to the Charles Lloyd collection. Ever since he first rose to prominence in the 1960s with his groundbreaking quartet, he has continued to move listeners of all different backgrounds with culturally diverse and spiritually moving music. Unfortunately, Mr. Lloyd dropped out of the music scene in the 1970s to pursue other interests. In the 1980s he re-emerged as a musician recording for the ECM label, which is the record label of this CD "Jumping the Creek." His style has changed, more reserved and brooding, but his pitch is the same and he still has loads of fresh new ideas.

On this April 5, 2005 release, Charles Lloyd seems to have continued his creation of groundbreacking music. He is surrounded by three musicians who understand his music: pianist Geri Allen, basssist Robert Hurst(former bassist for the SF Jazz collective), and drummer Eric Harland(current drummer for the SF Jazz Collective). Each are dynamic in their own right, but when these three combine with Charles Lloyd, the sound is floating, hard driving, striking, and meditative.

The album begins with the best thing on the whole album, "Ne Me Quitte Pas". Geri Allen begins by playing chords and the group enters to state the melody. "Ne Me Quitte Pas" is quite possibly one of the darkest pieces Mr. Lloyd has ever recorded. The melody is bleak, painting a picture of ominous, dark clouds ready to storm rain. Mrs. Allen develops her solo until she forcefully pounds (in a musical way) the main chords of the composition, climaxing her brilliant solo. Mr. Lloyd returns by restating the melody and develops the solo to an unbelievable climax where he screams in the upper altissimo range of the tenor saxophone. Eric Harland smashes the symbals with sticks, as oppossed to the delicate yet driving brushwork he uses for most of the composition. Robert Hurst plucks the bass with vigour, and Geri Allend accents with her rich chords. This breathtaking climax sent chills down my spine and clearly this performance and composition rank among Charles Lloyd's best.

The rest of the album is very good, although not quite living up the epic perportions of the first composition. There are many duets between different members of the band. For instance, the title track begins with just drums and saxophone and later piano and drums. There are ballads and swing and meditative pieces. In addition to his tenor Lloyd plays alto on some tracks and the taragato, adding to the ethnic feel.

This is an amazing album nevertheless and worth entirely every penny - even for the first piece, but the rest of the album is excellent. This and "Voice In the Night" to me represent the best of the new Lloyd that I have heard on ECM and there is everything in this album to confirm that Charles Lloyd is one of the greatest saxophonists alive, still fresh with new ideas and experiences to share with the listener.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charles Lloyd "Jumping The Creek", February 21, 2006

By 

David P. Zoller (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jumping the Creek (Audio CD)

With Geri Allen on piano, Lloyd goes right to the edge. Fans of 'Trane's classic quartet
and the more recent work of Joe Lovano, Branford Marsalis, Tony Malaby, et al will love this one. Eric Harland (drums) and Robert Hurst (bass) are equal musical partners in this solid effort

Kudos to ECM for signing Lloyd and let him do it his way. Musically, the result have been alway first-rate.