Lloyd, Charles & Maria Farantouri / Athens Concert
Album: Athens Concert   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Lloyd, Charles & Maria Farantouri   Added:Dec 2011
Label:Ecm Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2011-12-04 Pull Date: 2012-02-05 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Feb 5 Jan 29 Jan 22 Jan 15 Jan 8 Jan 1 Dec 25 Dec 18
Airplays: 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Mar 05, 2022: Music Casserole
Kratissa Ti Zoi Mou (I Kept Hold Of My Life)
4. Jan 24, 2012: Rebop
Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Paradise Gardens, Taxidi Sta Kythera (Voyage To Cythera)
2. Feb 04, 2012: Jazz Catharsis
Dream Weaver
5. Jan 19, 2012: Sunshine . . . In The Afternoon
Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Dry Soil
3. Jan 31, 2012: Rebop
Dream Weaver
6. Jan 14, 2012: Music Casserole
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

Album Review
Fo
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

Track Listing
1. Kratissa Ti Zoi Mou (I Kept Hold Of My Life)   10. Greek Suite, Part 2: Oh Eyelid
2. Dream Weaver   11. Greek Suite, Part 2: Margaritarenia
3. Blow Wind   12. Greek Suite, Part 2: My Little Sea
4. Requiem   13. Greek Suite, Part 3: Epirotiko Meroloi
5. Greek Suite, Part 1: Hymn To The Holy Trinity   14. Greek Suite, Part 3: I Burn And Slowly Melt
6. Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Dry Soil   15. Greek Suite, Part 3: Little Lemon Tree
7. Greek Suite, Part 1: In The Paradise Gardens   16. Greek Suite, Part 3: I Forget And I Am Glad
8. Taxidi Sta Kythera (Voyage To Cythera)   17. Greek Suite, Part 3: The Castle Of The Sun
9. Prayer   18. Yanni Mou (My Yanni)