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Vanished Gardens Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Artist(s): Charles Lloyd
  • Summary: The collaboration with Lucinda Williams, the saxophonist and the Marvels (Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland) features new versions of Williams' songs “Dust,” “Ventura” and “Unsuffer Me,” as well as Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Mood,” Jim Hendrix’s “Angel,” and threeThe collaboration with Lucinda Williams, the saxophonist and the Marvels (Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland) features new versions of Williams' songs “Dust,” “Ventura” and “Unsuffer Me,” as well as Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Mood,” Jim Hendrix’s “Angel,” and three original instrumentals. Collapse
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Uncut
    Jun 27, 2018
    80
    The five instrumental tracks are luminescent master classes in intuitive ensemble playing, too, Lloyd's sax as lyrical as Williams' poetry and matched by the inventiveness of the Marvels. [Aug 2018, p.30]
  2. Jul 12, 2018
    80
    Lloyd, the Marvels, and Williams cover an array of emotions while remaining well focused in sound (with the exception of “Monk’s Mood,” pretty enough for inclusion anyhow). It’s an impressive take by a roster of stars given over to the bigger idea.
  3. Mojo
    Jun 27, 2018
    80
    Vanished Gardens is ultimately an uplifting and deeply satisfying record, due mostly to Lloyd's ethereal saxophone, which complements Williams beautifully. [Aug 2018, p.95]
  4. 80
    Too bad Williams doesn’t sing on the plaintive Ballad of the Sad Young Men. Otherwise, this unexpected collaboration doesn’t miss a trick.
  5. Jul 10, 2018
    80
    Vanished Gardens sits in a sweet spot for Charles Lloyd, putting him at an intersection of different forms that have defined his career, from jazz standards to American pop singing, to meditative roots music. Despite early success, the recorded evidence is that Lloyd--at 80--is in his mature prime. May it continue.
  6. Jun 27, 2018
    70
    As diverse as the material here is, there's no sense that Lloyd is putting on different hats. Like his career as a whole, Vanished Gardens shows how the many currents of American music all flow into a single stream.
  7. Jun 29, 2018
    70
    Interestingly, the uneven moments on Vanished Gardens have more to do with the Marvels' reticence on the standards. Otherwise, the pairing of this band with Williams sounds natural, effortless, and holistic. There's definitely room for a sequel.

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