Charles Lloyd's New Quartet 1/28/11 Crowell Hall Wesleyan

Veteran sax man Lloyd with Jason Moran (piano), Eric Harland (drums), and Reuben Rogers (bass) played to a full house at Crowell. Sold out when I arrived, I was lucky to get the first no show (row D center!). Lloyd's music has a spiritual quality and was the perfect antidote for three feet of snow. His warm tone and effortless fills are exotic and familiar at the same time. Moran's wife (opera singer) offered great renditions of "Go Down Moses" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing". Lloyd also played flute for one tune. To close the show. Lloyd recited a beautiful poem with Moran backing. Lloyd's California late sixties residency had his group at the junction of jazz and rock and can be heard on recordings by the Doors and Canned Heat. His group was the first jazz act to play at the Fillmore. Years later at Wesleyan, in his signature hat and dark glasses, Lloyd and company kicked it. He looked in cognito, disguised as himself.