CHARLES LLOYD – FIGURE IN BLUE (2025 2XLP) (Blue Note)

‘Figure in Blue’ on the cover is Charles Lloyd, the gifted, innovated saxophonist, who is enjoying a renaissance. On the title track ‘Memories of Duke’ (Duke Ellington) both he and pianist Jason Moran excel. The album opens reverently with ‘Abide with Me’. ‘Desolation Sound’ showcases Lloyd at his fluid best as he unleashes flurries of notes with a deft piano solo in its midriff. ‘Rumination’ is a bit more abstract than expressionist. ‘Chulahoma’ evokes Delta Blues. Two tracks ‘Song My Lady Sings’ is a piano rich piece in which the guitarist also plays a significant role. ‘The Ghost of Lady Day’ is an inspired invocation to Billie Holliday. ‘Blues For Langston’ is also close to Delta Blues with bottleneck guitar and flute reminding me of early Jethro Tull. A new take on ‘Black Butterfly’ had sinuous sax and recalls the backstreets of jazz while ‘Ancient Rain’ is a solo piano piece, and Lloyd’s latest trio work comes highly recommended.