Charles Lloyd & the Marvels, “I Long to See You” (Blue Note)
The guitars flanking saxophonist Charles Lloyd on his latest album nudge him in a more spiritual direction. There’s a prayerful feel even to the pop tunes “Masters of War” and “You Are So Beautiful,” and the closing 16-minute piece, “Barche Lamsel,” has Buddhist roots.
“Barche Lamsel” also has only one chord. This is still jazz, after all.
Fifty years into his recording career, Lloyd deserves credit for discovering fresh textures in the old genre. For “I Long to See You” he enlisted guitarist Bill Frisell and steel guitarist Greg Leisz to join his rhythm section of bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland, and named the group the Marvels.
That they are. The guitar work has more in common with Garcia and Allman than with Reinhardt or Christian, expanding the palette of possibilities. “Sombrero Sam,” for example, starts as surf rock and ends with a Lloyd flute solo.
For further variety, Lloyd recruited singers, too. Norah Jones shows her jazz chops with a chromatic approach to “You Are So Beautiful,” while Willie Nelson sings “Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream” — and throws in a few guitar licks of his own.
Best of all is Lloyd’s beautiful one-verse rendition of the hymn “Abide With Me.” Is 82 seconds enough for a jazz tune? Amen. Steven Wine, AP
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