CHARLES LLOYD
Genres: Post Bop, Post-Fusion Contemporary, Classic Fusion, World Fusion, Avant-Garde Jazz, Jazz Related Rock, Jazz Related Improv, Composition, Third Stream, Pop, Art Song, Folk, Hard Bop, 21st Century Modern • United States

Charles Lloyd (born March 15, 1938) is an American jazz musician. Though he primarily plays tenor saxophone and flute, he has also occasionally recorded on alto saxophone and more exotic reed instruments which include the Hungarian tárogató. Lloyd's saxophone playing is often characterized as an individualized, lighter-toned variant of John Coltrane's style. His best known composition is "Forest Flower" Lloyd was born in Memphis, Tennessee. From an early age, he was immersed in that city's rich musical life and was exposed to jazz. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 9 and took lessons from pianist Phineas Newborn. One of his closest friends was trumpeter Booker Little. Lloyd became a sideman in the blues bands of B. B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Bobby "Blue" Bland and others. In 1956 Lloyd moved to Los Angeles and earned a music degree from the University of Southern California. During this period Lloyd played in read more...