Charles Lloyd: Arrows Into Infinity

Watching this movie was a spiritual experience itself. One of the most successful musical documentaries I've ever viewed. Purely honest and intimate depiction of one of the most talented Jazz artists on the planet. It's time America "rediscovered" Charles Lloyd who enjoyed rock(jazz?) star status in the 60"s. His music is vibrant with life, love, and light today! He transcended so many boundaries with his music in his lifetime,it's astounding.

I gained new insight into the heart and genius of this artist through the delicate artistry of this film. Wonderful accomplishment! The historical context, the interweaving of nature scenes with the music lifts this genre to new heights. Film maker Dorothy Darr has produced a masterpiece that radiates as a work of love.

This movie was so inspiring I drove down to Amoeba records and bought a few of Lloyd's CD's. Someone else must have been equally moved because the selections had been thinned out recently according to the staff.Some of his newer CD's were in stock, but the older ones of historical nature mentioned in the film were not. So what did i do? Started ordering online of course. The movie is just that powerful.

It's hard to be objective because I've loved the music of Charles Lloyd since I discovered his first "comeback" CD in the 80s. The film is a beautiful portrait of Lloyd's life spent dedicated to music as a means to a spiritual life. It is generous in spirit and balances commentary from Lloyd and his many fantastic friends and collaborators with a bunch of footage and music from his whole career.

The musical choices are fantastic and the level of playing is astonishing. Lloyd makes music that is deeply spiritual, by turns powerful and edgy, and gentle and lyrical. His bandmates in every era have been among the best living musicians, committed to making the most alive and beautiful music possible. This film celebrates the journey that has been Lloyd's life and succeeds brilliantly.

I hope the DVD has lots more concert outtakes. One thing that is clear by the end of the movie is that the music Lloyd is making now at age 75 is as alive and vital as ever. His current collaborators, Zakir Hussain, Eric Harland, Rueben Rogers and Jason Moran are among the best jazz (and world) musicians of our time and they're called on to bring everything they have every time they play with Charles.

I loved it wholeheartedly.