Spellbinding tribute to Billy Higgins
Charles Lloyd didn't say a word
Philip
Elwood
Friday, January 4, 2002
©2002 San Francisco Chronicle
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/01/04/DD119000.DTL
The Charles Lloyd quartet's tribute to Billy Higgins at Yoshi's on Wednesday night emerged as a mesmerizing musical memorial to the drummer, who died eight months ago.
Woodwind master Lloyd, long a notable soul-searcher on tenor sax and alto flute, has in recent years become something of a messiah, creating a seancelike mood throughout his audiences; at Wednesday's performance, which was nearly sold out, pianist Geri Allen, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Billy Hart supported Lloyd in casting his spell.
Although the program included seven titled selections, the presentation was much like a continuous suite, its parts separated only by audience applause. Lloyd chose not to speak during the 70-minute service; his colleagues were not introduced, nor were the tunes -- five of which were Lloyd compositions.
A ballad, "Blow Wind," set the evening's mood, with Lloyd (on sax) and Allen both playing long, mournful, lead lines, then joining in duet. On most of the set's selections (or tone poems), bassist Grenadier played improvised counter-rhythm obbligatos, often only implying the actual beat, or tempo.
Grenadier, 35, who was born in San Francisco, has become one of the great bassists of his generation.
The evening's second and third selections were performed as one. Grenadier introduced the first, "Bharati," with a solo improvisation; Allen, playing with remarkable force, joined him; and then Lloyd's sax took over, free- soloing above the bass and drums, occasionally joined by the piano.
Continuing in this seemingly sanctified mood, Lloyd's tenor sax (playing in its upper register) introduced the magnificent theme of Billy Strayhorn's "Blood Count," which became the entire performance's most memorable segment, a gorgeous, emotional rendition of a classic jazz composition.
After Grenadier's introduction to "Little Peace," Lloyd -- now on flute -- took the lead, giving way to what became a piano-drum duet, then a full quartet romp, guided by some firm walking-bass rhythms.
"Georgia on My Mind" featured Lloyd's beautiful saxophone inventions backed by Allen's imaginative harmonic support, and the set ended with the delightful syncopated riffs of Lloyd's composition, "Zolta," the most jaunty tune of the performance. Here again, Allen's piano and Hart's drums combined for a series of choruses before Lloyd joined in on the fun.
Appropriately alone on the stage with his sax, Lloyd played a chorus of his "Prayer" as a musical epitaph.
It was a rewarding and memorable performance.
JAZZ
THE CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET: 8 and 10 p.m. today and tomorrow, $20-$24. Sunday kids' matinee at 2 p.m., $5-$20. 8 p.m. Sunday, $20. Yoshi's, 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland. (510) 238-9200.E-mail Philip Elwood at pelwood@sfchronicle.com.
©2002 San Francisco Chronicle