I Long To See You
Blue Note, 2016
8/10
The legendary saxophone player Charles Lloyd found himself in the company of a new band on I Long To See You, where guitarist Bill Frisell and pedal steel player Greg Leisz accompany his long time quartet across these 10 very thought out tunes.
The record opens with Bob Dylan’s “Masters Of War”, where Lloyd’s sublime saxophone is complemented by Friswell’s warm guitar lines and Eric Harland’s careful drumming, and “Of Course, Of Course” follows with Lloyd handling flute on the playful and bouncy setting of timeless skill.
Halfway through, “Sombrero Sam” finds a calm, reflective place to reside with shimmering guitar work alongside adventurous drumming, while “All My Trials” brings the brass back with a sublime execution of dreamy musicianship. The best track included invites Willie Nelson in for the hazy beauty of the soulful “Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream”.
Close to the end, “You Are So Beautiful” hosts Norah Jones as her inimitable pipes highlight the slow burning song craft that’s both expressive and stirring, and “Barche Lamsel” exits the listen with a blurry adventure of jazz on the 16 minutes of exploration amid eclectic ideas.
A very diverse listen musically and lyrically, traditional hymns and anti-war songs are in attendance, as Lloyd and company span upbeat melody as well as landscapes of emotive melancholy on this exceptional effort.
Travels well with: The Nels Cline 4- Currents, Constellations; Charles Lloyd & The Marvels- Vanished Gardens