During 1966-1969,
Charles Lloyd led one of the most popular groups in jazz, a unit that played at the rock palace Fillmore West in San Francisco and toured the U.S.S.R.
Lloyd's music, although generally a bit melodic, was not watered-down and managed to catch on for several years during a time when jazz was at its low point in popularity.
Lloyd played locally in Memphis (including with
B.B. King and
Bobby Blue Bland) and then in the mid-'50s moved to Los Angeles to attend USC. During his six years in L.A., he gigged around town and played alto with
Gerald Wilson's Orchestra. In 1961 he joined
the Chico Hamilton Quintet on flute and tenor, making his recording debut and gaining a strong reputation. During 1964-1965, he was with
the Cannonball Adderley Sextet and then in mid-1965 formed his own group. By 1966,
the Charles Lloyd Quartet included
Keith Jarrett,
Cecil McBee (who was later succeeded by
Ron McClure), and
Jack DeJohnette and the band was the hit of the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival, recorded steadily, toured Europe six times, and was remarkably popular.
Lloyd, whose most famous composition is "Forest Flower," played tenor in a soft-toned version of
John Coltrane, while his lyrical flute playing is more original. After his group changed personnel in 1969,
Lloyd gradually faded out of music, becoming a teacher of transcendental meditation. The few records he made in the 1970s were quite spiritual and bordered on new age. However pianist
Michel Petrucciani looked
Lloyd up in the early '80s and persuaded him to return to active playing. For a period,
Petrucciani was in his quartet. By the late '80s
Lloyd had a new group with pianist
Bobo Stenson, bassist
Palle Danielsson, and drummer
Jon Christensen that regularly recorded for ECM.
Charles Lloyd, whose style remains virtually unchanged from the '60s, has recorded as a leader for Columbia, Atlantic, Kapp, A&M, Blue Note, and ECM. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide