The Flowering
Charles Lloyd · 1971
42 min · 5 tracks · blues
A kaleidoscopic blend of jazz and blues that weaves complex melodies with soulful improvisation.
Top tracks — play these first
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Speak Low — This track opens the album with rich harmonies and intricate solos, establishing the emotive depth that characterizes Lloyd's work throughout.
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Gypsy '66 — At over fourteen minutes, this extended piece highlights Lloyd's virtuosic saxophone skills and demonstrates the album's experimental spirit.
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Love-In / Island Blues — This track combines a joyful melody with a relaxed groove, perfectly illustrating Lloyd's ability to meld diverse influences into a cohesive sound.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and skilled improvisation, blending jazz and blues effectively.
What we noticed
- The album features extended improvisational sections, particularly in tracks like 'Love-In / Island Blues', where the musicians explore themes over lengthy instrumental passages.
- The use of varied instrumentation, including saxophone, piano, and percussion, creates a rich tapestry of sound that evolves throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- soulful improvisation that captivates
- vibrant melodies for relaxed evenings
- patient explorations of musical themes
- for reflective moments
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer straightforward, short tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1971, The Flowering was Charles Lloyd's third studio album and came after his acclaimed album, Forest Flower. At this point in his career, Lloyd was establishing himself as a leading voice in jazz, blending elements of spiritual jazz with lyrical improvisation, which would define his style moving forward.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ornette Coleman· Wayne Shorter· Kamasi Washington
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Speak Low 8:26
- 2 Love-In / Island Blues 6:19
- 3 Wilpan's 6:39
- 4 Gypsy '66 14:11
- 5 Goin' to Memphis / Island Blues 7:04
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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