I remember reading about Charles Lloyd’s triumphant appearance at the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival in Down Beat magazine. His Quartet featured Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums. Then a few months later, it was released on Atlantic Records. And it totally blew my mind. Especially Keith Jarrett’s solo on Forest Flower. Not surprisingly, it became a crossover hit, becoming popular on FM rock radio, and became on one of the first jazz albums to sell over one million copies.
It was hard to believe that with such young players, and after being together for less than a year, Charles Lloyd was able to create a progressive jazz sound that was both far-reaching and undeniably sophisticated, while remaining rich and accessible. By the time the band played their final number, they’d touched on nearly the entire history of jazz, yet managed to push it forward with remarkable ease. Forest Flower stands as a great live album.
In the late 1960s, no jazz musician captured the popular imagination quite like Charles Lloyd. Born in 1938, Lloyd, along with his quartet drew packed houses and enthralled festival crowds around the world. In 1967, Down Beat Magazine named him Jazzman of the Year, cementing his status as a favorite among critics and fans alike. Lloyd’s quartet didn’t just play jazz clubs—they performed at universities and on the stages of the psychedelic rock circuit, sharing bills with icons like the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and the Byrds.
Lloyd’s music carried a message that resonated deeply with the counterculture youth. His “love vibrations” preached unity, openness, and acceptance, offering a peaceful soundtrack in stark contrast to the confrontational protest anthems of many of his contemporaries. To a generation searching for truth, Lloyd was their friendly big brother, offering a sound that was warm, inviting, and steeped in tranquility.
And now, fifty seven years later, Charles Lloyd is eighty six, and still playing. His new quartet includes Jason Moran on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Eric Harland on drums. And he’s still playing Forest Flower.
Saw that Charles Lloyd group on a double bill with the Butterfield Blues Band in Central Park during the 60's. I can still see them in my mind's eye with Keith Jarrett playing the piano strings at one point. An enchanting concert.
What is the date of the photo… I remember him from his playing at the old Famous Ballroom in Baltimore and he c was incredible… very handsome as well…