After
dropping off Emma Tess and her college mate at the Guggenheim I drove down the
village. It was my first trip to the
Village Vanguard. For a fan of jazz the
mere suggestion is an insult to the city as well as the national treasure. Yet,
I have seen my share of jazz concerts and a few in the city stand out, Miles
Davis at Indigo Blue, Betty Carter at the Bottom Line, and McCoy Tyner with
Ravi Coltrane at Lincoln Center. Let’s
add the Ron Carter’s 80th birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall
which included the living members of the Miles David Quintet Herbie Hancock and
Carter and…Wayne Shorter on saxophone who I saw perform with his quartet, Brian
Blade on drums at Lincoln Center. Last
point, saw Blade with Pharaoh Sanders at Birdland and had the honor of
interviewing Mr. Sanders between sets.
Last week, the Village Vanguard celebrated its 80th anniversary. Before the show started Lorraine Gordon, Max
Gordon’s widow (the original proprietor & no relation to me) sat in the back and spoke loudly, so loudly
in fact most of the establishment was turning their heads to see who was making
a scene. “I wouldn’t recognize him if I
saw him. Oh, look everyone is looking at
me, they can hear me.” Who is that? The owner.
The Vanguard as it is commonly known is an intimate club. Anyone can hear anyone if they project their
voice. After waiting outside for a good
twenty minutes in the frigid March wind, eventually the line moved which
wrapped itself around the block, moved. I passed through a narrow and short red
door and filed with the rest of the line down steep steps. I could feel the rumbling of a subway under
my feet. I checked in and was taken to a
seat where I would share a table and get to know who my neighbor was. There is a one drink minimum and a good tip
as per the web site is a dollar or two per a drink. I felt sorry for the usher since he had to
maneuver in the close quarters. His
buttocks brushed against elbows and his gentle excuse me… was whispered. Before I go on, God bless Lorraine Gordon who
is 92 was there and ready to see Charles Lloyd.
My sincere gratitude - for keeping the Vanguard open... This is the place where most of the icons of
jazz took the stage and she’s keeping more coming back…
The lights dimmed, the sold out room clapped and cheered as Charles
Lloyd, dressed in a long grey coat, wearing a small hat, darkened glasses and a
scarf, took the stage. He pressed his
hands together and warmly bowed to the audience as well as to his band. Jason Moran who coordinated six nights to
celebrate the Vanguard’s anniversary, introduced Charles Lloyd and declared
this was a dream to share the stage with Charles Lloyd at the Vanguard. My seat was close to the stage. Mr. Lloyd played his horn with a tilt and blew
with precision, pushing the chords with sharp accuracy. I was blown away. I’m a late adoring fan of his music as well
as the man. I have asked if I can
interview him for this blog and perhaps there will be a segment when/if
provided I am given the opportunity. His spirituality flows through his music, the
tone, his style… resonates…he is a pure master displaying his unique form. There is some semblance of free jazz and yet
his music and style is distinct. In
addition to the sax, he played the flute as well as another instrument called
the tarogato. His band played the songs
like a fluid machine. Each distinct song
flowed from one song to the next like a brook of water tumbling over smooth
stones. On bass, the accomplished Reuben
Rogers and on drums the ever present stick of precision Eric Harland and of
course the master Jason Moran on the piano.
Thank you Charles Lloyd for sharing the set of songs from the first gig:
1) Part 5 Rumination 2) Nu Blues, 3)Abide with me 4)Requiem 5) Little Peace 6)
Ramanujan 7) Hymme to the Mother 8)Dance.
Charles Lloyd is playing at the NEA Jazz Masters at Lincoln
Center on April 20. His US premier of
his composition Wild Man Dance Suite will be performed at the Metropolitan on
Saturday April 18 and if you’re patient he plays in our area again next January
at Lincoln Center.
The picture in the Vanguard is copied from the NY Times article on the show...
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