Charles Lloyd & Maria Farantouri
Release Date: 29 August 2011
Label: ECM Records
Packaging Type: Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 602527678337
Description
'Athens Concert' is a major event, a very special live double album. It documents a stunning performance in front of a huge audience at the open air Odeon of Herodes Atticus, as Charles Lloyd, uniquely-expressive saxophonist, and Maria Farantouri, Greece's voice of resistance, come together. Friends for a decade, this is their first recorded collaboration.
Lloyd's brilliant quartet is on hand and on fire, with Jason Moran in especially creative mode. Critics view the current Lloyd group as not only Charles's most consistently creative ensemble to date but also one of the very best groups in contemporary jazz. The band's last two albums, 'Rabo de Nube' and 'Mirror' were both poll-toppers.
On Athens Concert, the quartet plus Farantouri are augmented by lyra player Socratis Sinopoulos and second pianist/arranger Takis Frazio in a marvellous programme that includes songs by Mikis Theodorakis, suites of Greek traditional music, Eleni Karaindrou's 'Voyage to Cythera' and Lloyd originals including his classic 'Dream Weaver'. Recorded in Athens in June 2010, the music was mixed by Manfred Eicher and Jan Erik Kongshaug at Oslo's Rainbow Studio.
Lloyd: "From Maria's first notes I felt such a power and depth of humanity. She is a modern wonder rising up from the ruins of civilization. She is Alethea, Athena, Aphrodite, Demeter, Gaia, Phemonoe...Mother of the Universe. The resonance of her voice stirred the memory of my love for Billie Holiday." Maria Farantouri: "For me it was an aesthetic pleasure to work with Charles, becoming a unique experience on stage, as jazz music blended with the musical tradition of Greece, and transformed it into a wholly new sound."
Personnel: Charles Lloyd (tenor saxophone, flute, tarogato), Maria Farantouri (voice), Jason Moran (piano), Reuben Rogers (double-bass), Eric Harland (drums), Socratis Sinopoulos (lyra), Takis Farazis (piano)
Tracklisting
Vladimir Spivakov; Sergej Bezrodny; Alexander Malter; Dietmar Schwalke
Steve Swallow; Michael Rodriguez;Chris Cheek; Steve Cardenas; Gil Goldstein; Adam Nussbaum
Ensemble Modern Orchestra; Rob Rutman; Peter Eotvos
Joe Lovano; Julian Lage; Asante Santi Debriano; Will Calhoun
Tomasz Stanko; Tomasz Szukalski; Dave Holland; Edward Vesala
Bill Connors; Jan Garbarek; Gary Peacock; Jack DeJohnette
Mick Goodrick; Fred Hersch
Judith Berkson; Trevor Dunn; Gerald Cleaver
Trio Ivoire (Hans Ludemann, Aly Keita & Christian Thome)
Oregon
Stephan Micus
Jaco Pastorius & Rashied Ali
Chet Baker
His 'n' Hers (Judith O'Higgins & Dave O'Higgins)
Muca & Roberto Menescal
Joao Bosco & NDR BigBand
