Charles Lloyd Quartet - Mirror

For half a century - from the legendary 'Forest Flower' quartet of the 60s all the way through to today - master saxophonist Charles Lloyd has been one of the most insightful band leaders in all of jazz, encouraging great players to give of their best. Many critics have opined that Lloyd's New Quartet, with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland may be the best of them all. The group's previous release, the live Rabo de Nube, was a sensational success, so this studio recording is especially eagerly-awaited.

'Mirror' is the first studio album by the Lloyd-Moran-Rogers-Harland unit and it features beautiful, transformed versions of favourites including both Lloyd originals and tunes Charles has made his own over the years. There is a pair of Thelonious Monk tunes, Ruby, My Dear and Monk's Mood, as well as hymns and traditionals including Go Down Moses, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and The Water Is Wide. Lloyd covers Brian Wilson's Caroline, No (the saxophonist guested on several Beach Boys albums in the 70s, including the classic Surf's Up), and plays the standard I Fall In Love Too Easily. Lloyd originals include Desolation Sound, Mirror, Tagi (which includes a spoken-word meditation by Lloyd) and Being and Becoming.

There is plenty of Lloyd's graceful, mellifluous and poetic tenor sax: We also get to hear some of his rarely-showcased alto saxophone, the instrument that Billy Higgins called Charles's secret weapon. The band plays superbly, with Jason Moran in particular exhibiting all the skills that have made him a multiple poll winner.

Personnel: Charles Lloyd (tenor and alto saxophone, voice), Jason Moran (piano), Reuben Rogers (double-bass), Eric Harland (drums, voice)