Charles Lloyd and Steve Tibbetts: Inner Directed and Independent

Perhaps not surprisingly, independent thinkers are invariably self-motivated and both those virtues apply to saxophonist Charles Lloyd and guitarist Steve Tibbetts. But while the former has roamed far and wide in a series of musical adventures involving the disparate likes of Keith Jarrett and the The Beach Boys, the latter has chosen to go deep rather than broad in working with percussionist Marc Anderson for upwards of fifty years. In a similar reflection of their respective approaches, Tibbetts has mostly recorded for ECM Records as he does now, while Lloyd has worked with that label and a number of others, currently Blue Note. The continuity of attitude in these artists is as admirable as the consistency of their output, including this very pair.

Charles Lloyd
Figure In Blue
Blue Note Records
2025

Another in a lengthy list of trio outings, veteran saxophonist and composer Charles Lloyd has opted yet again for the relative simplicity of a three-piece ensemble. Yet on these fourteen tracks with pianist Jason Moran and guitarist Martin Sewell, the generally tranquil tenor of the musicianship reflects the calm of a seaside photo inside the sleeve, finding the threesome maintaining that tone as they probe material such as the fittingly titled opener "Abide With Me." The potent pacing of the approximately one hour and a half playing time arises from nuanced track sequencing, so while "Figures In Blue, Memory of Duke" approaches jollity, mostly by dint of Moran's almost fleet movements along the ivories, and Sewell adds an edge from his fretboard on "The Ghost of Lady Day," the bandleader uses alto flute to on the bluesy "Black Butterfly" to reaffirm what an equitable instrumental balance he achieves with his comrades. While the title tune clearly references jazz icon Duke Ellington as one of multiple homages here, another hypothetical tribute comes to mind as well: The Gentle Side of John Coltrane (ABC/Impulse,1975). Much like that set's depth of expression and consistency of tone, the respective light touch of Lloyd, Moran and Sewell belies the passion of their playing on selections like "The Ghost of Lady Day" and "Hymn to the Mother, for Zakir."

Steve Tibbetts
Close
ECM Records
2025

Working in a trio setting like his fellow idiosyncrat, Steve Tibbetts conjures up comparably pervasive moods on Close And, as this triad is equally purposeful over the course of the fifty-five minutes: Tibbetts, multi- instrumentalist Marc Anderson and drummer JT Bates generates an ebb and flow ranging from luminescent clarity to nearly- impenetrable opacity during cuts such as "We Begin." And true to the leader's roots in the blues, the interweaving of acoustic and electric guitars on, for example, "Remember," reveals tones as haunting as the sonics are deep and detailed: for instance, percussion spans the stereo spectrum for an enveloping, engrossing effect during "Away." Meanwhile, the partitioning of the cuts—in five segments for, appropriately, "Everywhere"—suggests how otherwise indiscernible are the transitions within each of the nine. There is no sense of hurry or delay anywhere here, however, suggesting just how deeply intuitive are the musicians' interactions, especially through "Anywhere:" the playing is sufficiently purposeful to allow bent notes on the strings to refract off quick hits around the drum kit. Flowing like a dream sequence in such a way it initially invites, then eventually compels the repeated revisits of its evocative instrumental machinations, Close hits the home stretch with abrasive sounds that remind the attractions that precede and follow, not to mention the intimacy inherent in the album's title.

Tracks and Personnel

Figure In Blue

Personnel-Charles Lloyd: tenor saxophone, alto flute, clarinet [Tarogato] ; Jason Moran: piano, shaker.

Tracks: Abide With Me; Hina, Hanta, the way of peace; Figure In Blue, Memories of Duke; Desolation Sound; Ruminations; Chulahoma; Song My Lady Sings; The Ghost of Lady Day; Blues for Langston; Heaven; Black Butterfly; Ancient Rain; Hymn To The Mother, for Zakir; Somewhere.

Close

Personnel: Steve Tibbetts: guitar, Percussion, piano; Marc Anderson: percussion, gongs, handpan, loops; JT Bates: drums.

Tracks: We Begin; Away; Remember; Somewhere; Anywhere; Everywhere; Remember And; Remember And Wish; We End.

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