Charles Lloyd

One of the most eagerly anticipated modern jazz events of 2009, Charles Lloyd’s “New Quartet” appears at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis for just one night, July 2nd. An early cohort of Jack Dejohnette and Keith Jarrett, multi-reed specialist Lloyd is a longtime recording artist for ECM, which released his acclaimed Rabo de Nube in 2008, featuring the current ensemble of Jason Moran (piano), Reuben Rogers (bass) and Eric Harland (drums).  

Charles Lloyd grew up in Memphis, moving to Los Angeles in 1956 to study at USC. There he was influenced by Eric Dolphy, Don Cherry, and Ornette Coleman. In New York, Lloyd was a sideman with the Chico Hamilton and Cannonball Adderley bands, and played with Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus. His legendary status in the 1960s world music movement culminated in his historic appearance at the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival with then-undiscovered piano whiz Keith Jarrett and a young drummer named Jack DeJohnnette. The resulting live recording, Forest Flower, became one of the first jazz records to sell a million copies. After touring in the wake of his success, Lloyd retreated from public performance for much of the 70s and 80s, concentrating on meditation, studying Eastern religious thought, and for a time, mentoring piano prodigy Michel Petrucciani. Reinvesting in his jazz career in the late 1980s, Lloyd began a series of acclaimed ECM recordings and performances with the late drummer, Billy Higgins.

Jason Moran

Named the first Playboy Jazz Artist of the Year for 2005 and a “three-peat” winner of Downbeat’s Critics Poll (Rising Star Jazz Artist, Rising Star Composer and Rising Star Acoustic Piano), 34-year-old Jason Moran is regarded as “one of the most potent suppliers of unpredictable music around” (JazzTimes). Born and raised in Houston, he attended the Houston School of the Performing and Visual Arts, leading to his enrollment at the Manhattan School of Music. In New York, Moran found an invaluable mentor in the late Jaki Byard, and further honed his composition chops with visionaries Muhal Richard Abrams and Andrew Hill. In 1997, Greg Osby hired Moran on the recommendation of the pianist’s high school classmate, hot young drummer Eric Harland. Moran’s debut recording, Soundtrack to Motion, hit the top spot in The New York Times ' Top Recordings of the Year for 1999, with the Time’s proclaiming that “He's such an obvious exception to the often-heard gripe that jazz hasn't produced individualists since the '60s.”

Reuben Rogers©Andrea Canter

A native of the Virgin Islands, Reuben Rogers grew up hearing calypso, reggae, gospel and jazz.  His musical journey included clarinet, piano, drums and guitar before he found his true calling as a bassist at age 14. Ultimately landing at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he’s become one of the busiest musicians on the jazz scene, with stints with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Marcus Roberts, Joshua Redman, Mulgrew Miller, Charles Lloyd and Dianne Reeves.

Eric Harland©Andrea Canter

Charles Lloyd’s New Quartet performs at the Dakota Jazz Club on July 2; two shows, 7 and 9:30 pm. FFI and reservations at 612-332-1010 or www.dakotacooks.com 

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites