Label: Blue Note Records, 2026
Personnel - Charles Lloyd: tenor saxophone, flute; Zakir Hussain: tabla, percussion; Eric Harland: drums; Vijay Prakash: vocals; Rakesh Chaurasia: bansuri; Sabir Khan: sarangi; Niladri Kumar: electric sitar; Ranjit Barot: keyboards.
Everyone knows that Charles Lloyd’s music is a sea of authenticity that lifts the spirit and awakens the senses. Most of the tracks on Sangam and Friends, his new album serving as a homage to the late tabla player Zakir Hussain, were recorded live in Mumbai in 2009 for an album that was never released. Drummer Eric Harland is the third side of the triangle that composes Sangam, yet this date is enriched by a rotating lineup of standout Indian collaborators that includes vocalist Vijay Prakash, bansuri player Rakesh Chaurasia, sarangi player Sabir Khan, sitar player Niladri Kumar, and keyboardist Ranjit Barot.
As expected, the new album traffics in an outgoing blend of world fusion, avant-jazz, and post-bop that attains emotional peaks on “Bharati’s Dance, Tempo Divine” and “Sam on the Ganges”, a sprightly reimagining of Lloyd’s memorable tune “Sombrero Sam”. The former piece showcases Lloyd in top form, blowing impulsively and fabulously over Hussain’s entrancing tabla patterns and Harland’s smart drumming. This Indo-jazz breeze is also felt on the latter piece, where Barot’s keyboards reinforce the texture, paving the way efficiently for bansuri and tenor discourses. Carrying soulful, transcendental energy, both the sarangi and electric sitar contribute rich flavors to a delicately spicy whole.
The beautiful vocal work of Prakash is featured on the meditative introductory “Clear the Dust” and “The Blessing”, where Lloyd evokes “Tone Poem” in his mystic chants. “Jai Ganga”, a traditional piece drawn from the group’s archives, is a vivid, celebratory marching dedication to the sacred Ganges river, while “Tagore”, featuring Lloyd on flute, is a premium Carnatic output with a lingering melody and mesmerizing rhythm, recorded live in Santa Barbara, CA, in 2014. In turn, “Eternal Dreaming”, using a sustained chord as a drone, reflects a meditative temperament.
With the rhythm team put to excellent use throughout the recording, Sangam and Friends shares multicultural stories, keeping Lloyd’s distinct style front and center.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - The Blessing ► 05 - Bharati’s Dance, Tempo Divine ► 07 - Sam on the Ganges