Dec 9 2018
Album of the Day: “Vanished Gardens” by Charles Lloyd & The Marvels
Artist: Charles Lloyd & The Marvels
Album: Vanished Gardens
Label: Blue Note Records
Style: Jazz Americana
Favorite Track: Vanished Gardens
Music from: Los Angeles, CA
What I like about it: Lucinda Williams adds her vocals to half of the tracks on this live performance, and I like that the band’s sound doesn’t change with her presence. They coalesce around her, like the current navigating the circumference of a small island at sea. I like that everything is melodically focused, which is implied on the instrumental tracks, and made perfectly clear on the vocal ones. I like how Bill Frisell’s guitar and Charles Lloyd’s sax just melt into one another, indistinguishable as sunbeams on a cloudless day. I like how the group generates an intensity from a casual delivery, that every passage, every phrase has that feel.
Extra notes: Hi, Bill & Lucinda, please feel free to adapt “Are You Alright?” for this or any similar project, thanks.
Your album personnel: Charles Lloyd (tenor sax, flute), Bill Frisell (guitars), Greg Leisz (pedal steel, dobro), Reuben Rogers (bass), Eric Harland (drums) and Lucinda Williams (vocals).
Available at: Amazon
Be sure to check out the artist’s site.
bill
December 9, 2018 @ 8:59 am
Hi Dave,
I just saw these guys last night – enjoyed the show, but not as much as I thought I would. Lucinda’s voice has a gritty warmth on her recent albums that I really like, but it didn’t come across in concert. She came across a bit harsh, which wasn’t helped by her being too loud in the mix.
In addition, Rogers bass was muddy for much of the night, and Frisell and Leisz, (two favorites of mine) have sonic similarities that left one feeling that they were stepping on each others toes at times. (something that I don’t feel happens on the album).
. Charlie’s playing was lyrical as hell – just love how he occasionally throws out delicate flutters from his sax – beautiful. Not especially challenging, but you’d have to be dead not to be moved.
Love the album, and I love it even more when an artist makes things even better in concert. This was what I was expecting, but it just didn’t happen for me.
Have a Happy Holiday season Dave – looking forward to your year end lists!
. Best,
Bill