Lift Every Voice is an album by jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd recorded in February 2002 by Lloyd with Geri Allen, John Abercrombie, Marc Johnson, Larry Grenadier and Billy Hart.^[1] The album represents Lloyd's response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Reception

The album received wide critical acclaim. The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 4½ stars and states "The result is one of the most unusual and deeply spiritual recordings in Lloyd's always-unusual career, one that says more with fewer means".^[2] The All About Jazz review by Mark Corroto stated "Lloyd’s belief in humanity and reliance on the healing and redemptive qualities of music propels this compassionate recording".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Charles Lloyd except as indicated.

Disc One:

1. "Hymn to the Mother" - 15:00
2. "You Are So Beautiful" (Bruce Fisher, Billy Preston) - 4:05
3. "Amazing Grace" (John Newton) - 4:46
4. "East Virginia, West Memphis" - 9:40
5. "What's Going On" (Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye) - 5:09
6. "Angel Oak" - 3:35
7. "Te Amaré" (Silvio Rodríguez) - 6:49
8. "I'm Afraid" (Duke Ellington) - 7:41
9. "Hafez, Shattered Heart" - 4:43

Disc Two:

1. "Rabo de Nube" (Rodríguez) - 7:07
2. "Blood Count" (Billy Strayhorn) - 5:08
3. "Go Down Moses" (Traditional) - 10:39
4. "Beyond Darkness" - 7:51
5. "Nocturne" - 6:13
6. Wayfaring Stranger" (Traditional) - 8:40
7. "Deep River" (Traditional) - 6:27
8. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (James Weldon Johnson, John Rosamond Johnson) - 3:10
9. "Prayer, The Crossing" - 14:03

Personnel

• Charles Lloyd - tenor saxophone, flute, tarogato
• Geri Allen - piano
• John Abercrombie - guitar
• Marc Johnson - double bass (CD1 #1, 3-7; CD2 #1, 3, 5, 9)
• Larry Grenadier - double bass (CD1 #2, 8; CD2 #2, 4-8)
• Billy Hart - drums

References