Athens Concert
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2011-12-04
Reviewed 2011-12-04
CHARLES LLOYD / MARIA FARANTOURI: Athens Concert
ECM, 2011
WORLD JAZZ / VOCAL – This is a spellbinding live performance. Charles Lloyd’s quartet is among the deepest groups in jazz today, spiritual and organic, expanding and retracting as a single body. Singer Maria Farantouri adds a wonderful element to their sound, as her sonorous voice renders traditional Greek songs and modern poetry with rich emotion. It’s a brilliant album, simply beautiful all around.
Note: the “Greek Suites” really should be played continuously. Disc 1, tracks 5-7 = 11:00, Disc 2: tracks 1-4 = 16:00, tracks 5-9 =21:00.
Charles Lloyd : tenor sax, flute, tarogato
Maria Farantouri: voice
Jason Moran, Takis Farazis : piano
Reuben Rogers : bass
Eric Harland : drums
Socratis Sinopoulos : lyra
Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 1, 2, 5-7 Disc 2 – 1-4, 5-9
DISC ONE
1. 5:59 – slow, haunting: lovely vocal and fluttering sax solo, surges and falls
2. 8:10 – instrumental: deep intro, then lively and uplifting, excellent piano solo
3. 5:34 – slow aching vocal, English lyric (by Lloyd) and dreamlike music
4. 5:57 – midtempo, a cool jazz stroll, vocals high and caressing
5. 4:03 – ancient Christian hymn, slow and liturgical with lush piano & flute
6. 2:52 – bright, dances in an upbeat circle
7. 4:49 – builds from slow start to a firm stride, band & vocal well blended
8. 4:35 – jazz ballad with poetic lyrics; brief but heartfelt sax breaks
DISC TWO
1. 7:58 – slow, heartbreaking intro, wordless vocal & sax have serene power
2. 3:32 – slow: beautiful, dragged-out melodic/vocal line & bowed lyra
3. 1:29 – flowing vocal builds from fragile start, pretty lyra break
4. 2:57 – faster and stirring, with flute and surging piano, dramatic ending
5. 6:28 – warbling tarogato intro, calmer lyra, exotic warping vocal lament
6. 5:00 – folksy tune: vocal, lyra & sax all in close accord, uplifting piano solo
7. 2:40 – uptempo spiral: the band jabs and swirls around vocal
8. 3:06 – breaks down from #7 into stride with strong voc, drum solo
9. 4:28 – strong, slashing feel: full band clicking, vocals stand tall
10. 7:27 – big, striding sound, weary but resolute vocal, active sax & piano
[ Fo ] - November 2011
ECM, 2011
WORLD JAZZ / VOCAL – This is a spellbinding live performance. Charles Lloyd’s quartet is among the deepest groups in jazz today, spiritual and organic, expanding and retracting as a single body. Singer Maria Farantouri adds a wonderful element to their sound, as her sonorous voice renders traditional Greek songs and modern poetry with rich emotion. It’s a brilliant album, simply beautiful all around.
Note: the “Greek Suites” really should be played continuously. Disc 1, tracks 5-7 = 11:00, Disc 2: tracks 1-4 = 16:00, tracks 5-9 =21:00.
Charles Lloyd : tenor sax, flute, tarogato
Maria Farantouri: voice
Jason Moran, Takis Farazis : piano
Reuben Rogers : bass
Eric Harland : drums
Socratis Sinopoulos : lyra
Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 1, 2, 5-7 Disc 2 – 1-4, 5-9
DISC ONE
1. 5:59 – slow, haunting: lovely vocal and fluttering sax solo, surges and falls
2. 8:10 – instrumental: deep intro, then lively and uplifting, excellent piano solo
3. 5:34 – slow aching vocal, English lyric (by Lloyd) and dreamlike music
4. 5:57 – midtempo, a cool jazz stroll, vocals high and caressing
5. 4:03 – ancient Christian hymn, slow and liturgical with lush piano & flute
6. 2:52 – bright, dances in an upbeat circle
7. 4:49 – builds from slow start to a firm stride, band & vocal well blended
8. 4:35 – jazz ballad with poetic lyrics; brief but heartfelt sax breaks
DISC TWO
1. 7:58 – slow, heartbreaking intro, wordless vocal & sax have serene power
2. 3:32 – slow: beautiful, dragged-out melodic/vocal line & bowed lyra
3. 1:29 – flowing vocal builds from fragile start, pretty lyra break
4. 2:57 – faster and stirring, with flute and surging piano, dramatic ending
5. 6:28 – warbling tarogato intro, calmer lyra, exotic warping vocal lament
6. 5:00 – folksy tune: vocal, lyra & sax all in close accord, uplifting piano solo
7. 2:40 – uptempo spiral: the band jabs and swirls around vocal
8. 3:06 – breaks down from #7 into stride with strong voc, drum solo
9. 4:28 – strong, slashing feel: full band clicking, vocals stand tall
10. 7:27 – big, striding sound, weary but resolute vocal, active sax & piano
[ Fo ] - November 2011
Recent airplay
Kratissa Ti Zoi Mou (I Kept Hold Of My Life)
Music Casserole — Mar 05, 2022
Dream Weaver
Jazz Catharsis — Feb 04, 2012
Dream Weaver
Rebop — Jan 31, 2012
Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Paradise Gardens, Taxidi Sta Kythera (Voyage To Cythera)
Rebop — Jan 24, 2012
Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Dry Soil
Sunshine . . . In The Afternoon — Jan 19, 2012
Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Paradise Gardens, Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Dry Soil, Greek Suite, Part 1: Hymn To The Holy Trinity
Music Casserole — Jan 14, 2012
Charting
2011-12-04 — 2012-02-05
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Feb 5 | 2 |
| Jan 29 | 1 |
| Jan 22 | 1 |
| Jan 15 | 1 |
| Jan 8 | 4 |
| Jan 1 | 1 |
| Dec 25 | 1 |
| Dec 18 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Kratissa Ti Zoi Mou (I Kept Hold Of My Life) | ||
| 2. | Dream Weaver | ||
| 3. | Blow Wind | ||
| 4. | Requiem | ||
| 5. | Greek Suite, Part 1: Hymn To The Holy Trinity | ||
| 6. | Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Dry Soil | ||
| 7. | Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Paradise Gardens | ||
| 8. | Taxidi Sta Kythera (Voyage To Cythera) | ||
| 9. | Prayer | ||
| 10. | Greek Suite, Part 2: Oh Eyelid | ||
| 11. | Greek Suite, Part 2: Margaritarenia | ||
| 12. | Greek Suite, Part 2: My Little Sea | ||
| 13. | Greek Suite, Part 3: Epirotiko Meroloi | ||
| 14. | Greek Suite, Part 3: I Burn And Slowly Melt | ||
| 15. | Greek Suite, Part 3: Little Lemon Tree | ||
| 16. | Greek Suite, Part 3: I Forget And I Am Glad | ||
| 17. | Greek Suite, Part 3: The Castle Of The Sun | ||
| 18. | Yanni Mou (My Yanni) |