Charles Lloyd

BLU RAY (DVD) EDITION

Arrows Into Infinity, a film by Dorothy Darr and Jeffery Morse, is a striking documentary portrait of Charles Lloyd. It chronicles the arc of an improviser's still-unfolding life, moving through time with memories, archive footage and music, lots of music.

Archive musical performances in Arrows Into Infinity include Charles Lloyd with the Cannonball Adderley Sextet in 1964 and the classic Lloyd Quartet with Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette and Cecil McBee (and subsequently Ron McClure) filmed at shows from 1966-1968. DeJohnette is also seen and heard in duo with Charles. Drums and drummers have been crucial in Lloyd's music and there is live and studio footage of Lloyd with Billy Higgins, and the Sangam trio with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland. Most of Charles' latter-day bands are featured. We see duets with Michel Petrucciani, the quintet with John Abercrombie, Geri Allen, Larry Grenadier and Billy Hart, the New Quartet with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland (augmented at one point by singer Alicia Hall Moran) and more. As Mike Figgis, film director, has observed: “Arrows gives a rare insight into the life of one of contemporary music's giants. The film finds a satisfying balance between documentary and exquisite live performance. There were times when I felt like clapping.”

Arrows Into Infinity is available in DVD. Running time 113 minutes. Subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian.