Label: Blue Note Records, 2022
Personnel - Charles Lloyd: tenor saxophone, flute; Gerald Clayton: piano; Anthony Wilson: guitar.
The second installment of Charles Lloyd’s Blue Note trio series is here, pairing up the legendary saxophonist with a regular collaborator, pianist Gerald Clayton, and a new associate, guitarist Anthony Wilson. Although Trios: Ocean doesn’t pack a wallop like the inaugural chapter did (Trios: Chapel features guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan), it still contains some precious moments that allow you to recognize Lloyd’s top form at 84.
Over the course of four Lloyd originals recorded during pandemic times, they navigate breezy and moderately churning waters with a serious, sensible perspicacity. The get-go “The Lonely One” is immersed in introspection and denotes quiet lyricism, making the transition to “Hagar of the Inuits” in a way that puts the listener on the lookout for something undemanding but sophisticated. In the latter piece, strong folk undertones are loosely thrown in by Lloyd, who stresses his style and spirit by conjuring some other pieces he wrote. We can hear fragments of the marvelous “Dream Weaver”, with Clayton and Wilson first responding with staccato accents in the accompaniment and subsequently finding their own way to interact without messing with each other’s ideas. Their respective solos are underpinned by smooth swing as well as firm pedal points.
The blues in the hands of Lloyd always has a special meaning, and that’s the case with “Jaramillo Blues”, a dedication to painter Virginia Jaramillo and her sculptor husband Daniel Johnson. The sweet, drifting sound of Lloyd’s flute finds Clayton’s melodic finesse and harmonic range, while Wilson opts to cook up something slowly and precise before expanding boundaries with one foot in and the other out.
The record comes to an end with the smooth vibes of “Kuan Yin” (the Chinese goddess of compassion and kindness), which, being seductively balanced in its underlying groove and texture, has Lloyd stirring up emotions at every move on the tenor. His mystic language stimulates Wilson for a remarkable guitar unfolding as well as Clayton, whose tonal riches take the song to a conclusion.
Favorite Tracks:
02 - Hagar of the Inuits ► 04 - Kuan Yin