CHARLES LLOYD + 75th BIRTHDAY:15 MARCH ( THE IDES OF MARCH) 2013 + “MUSIC IS A HEALING FORCE.” + TEMPLE OF DENDUR @ THE MET + JASON MORAN/ERIC HARLAND/REUBEN ROGERS + GR8 JOY +

FOR CHARLES LLOYD’S 75TH BIRTHDAY

15 MARCH 2013

ORIGINAL PAINTING INCORPORATING HIS WORD/MUSIC/THOUGHTS

13.25″ H x 11″ W  MIXED MEDIA ON BOARD

DETAIL BELOW

I looove Charles Lloyd’s sublime breath/sonics.

 http://www.charleslloyd.com/

Music is a healing force.

It has the ability to transcend boundaries,

it can touch the heart directly,

it can speak to a depth of the spirit

where no words are needed.

It is a most powerful form of communication

and

expression of beauty.

Whether in context of my “New Quartet”

with

Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland,

or Sangam, with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland

or

with Maria Farantouri,

it gives me great joy to make music with each of them.

Each time we play together there is a healing wholeness

that permeates the atmosphere.

We must go forward,

all the great ones that went before us

insisted on this.

For each generation,

it is incumbent upon us

to rise up

and

sing the song

– the journey and pursuit

is unending.

I will always remember that from his death bed

Master Higgins told me

“We must continue to work on this music,”

and as long as I am able,

I will continue to do so.

Each of us has his own experience,

and

from that experience,

something is transmitted.

For me, the purpose of life is to know God

and

the struggle of spiritual life will go on

as long as I have breath.

The pursuit and the music are one.

Yours in music,

Charles Lloyd

Hi Lowell:

 

Thank you.

 

An evening of oceanic revelation and awakenings.

As you know, Diane presented the gift to Charles,

and

Charles and Dorothy requested for me to join them

before the performance.

 

Sweet and mythic conversation.

Gerald Clayton and Eric Harland- Charles and Dorothy.

Reuben was not there.

 

I teased Eric on how many times he was quoted

in the 11 March issue of New Yorker article:

 The Adventures of Jason Moran.

 

I brought up the difference between

being an illustrator

– following conventions and  playing within the confines of genre

 v.

being an artist- like Exodus, following the Divine with faith

and

creating revelations,

being in the moment and following the edge of the next moment,

– transcending boundaries/boxes/labels/genres.

Good dialogue.

Faith.

Belief.

Vision.

Adventure.

 

My dear friend Donna Dennis, sculptor, who lives in Tribeca

( I have introduced you when she was at the Da’Kota

– she is good friends with Charlie Haden) 

is accompanying Jason to the Met on Friday:

Charles’ 75th- the Ides Of March!

The performance will in front of the Temple of Dendur!

Perfect.

Alicia, Jason’s wife, will be singing…

 

Attached is the painting I created for Charles:

incorporates his text from his website.

The painting cannot be read as static words due to the luminosity

and

the etched letter/drawing

– constant movement, yet etched.

Love, hope, music cannot be photographed- perhaps, its effects…

Life.

 

The piece measures 13.25″ H x 11″ W.

Full piece and detail.

Unfortunately, documented with my BlackBerry- 3 pixels.

 

Blessings + warm wonder,

xC

 

Send prayers and hold me up to the light next Monday- 3/18.

I was scheduled for yesterday

– I had to swim/soak in the sound of Charles before

the brutality of the upcoming procedure.

As a counterpoint and to fuel my soul.

I told Charles and Dorothy…

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/26/142205818/charles-lloyds-sangam-on-jazzset