Jazz,
Longworth-Anderson Series,
Jazz,
Longworth-Anderson Series,
Thu, April 22, 2027
8:00 PM
$73.50 - $129.50
inc. $4 service chargeCharles Lloyd with James Francies, Larry Grenadier & Kweku Sumbry
Charles Lloyd is an NEA Jazz Master and recipient of the prestigious French honor, l’Ordre Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. He was voted DownBeat Magazine’s Artist of the Year in 1967 and 2023, and in 2024 was honored with a rare DownBeat Critics Poll quadruple crown—Hall of Fame, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year—John Coltrane being the only other artist to receive such honor. Lloyd has a legendary history in the music world, and could certainly be in a position to slow down and rest on his laurels. The depth of his expression reflects a lifetime of experience. But looking back has never been of great interest to this tender warrior; “Go forward” is his motto, as he keeps shifting to a higher, well-calibrated gear.
In 1956, Lloyd moved to Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California. During this period, he played in Gerald Wilson’s big band, and formed his own group that included Billy Higgins, Don Cherry, Bobby Hutcherson, Scott LaFaro, and Terry Trotter. Lloyd joined Chico Hamilton in 1960. His influence as a composer quickly pushed the group in a more progressive post-bop direction when Hamilton asked him to be the group’s “music director.” In 1964, Lloyd left Hamilton’s group to join alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. He recorded two albums as a leader for Columbia Records, Discovery and Of Course, Of Course; his sidemen included Gabor Szabo, Don Friedman, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Pete La Roca. In 1965 Lloyd formed a quartet with pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. It was a meeting of straight-ahead post-bop, free jazz, rock, and world music. Their sound quickly caught the attention of jazz fans and critics. They achieved crossover success with young rock fans and became the first jazz group to play in the famed Fillmore. The album Forest Flower, Live at Monterey sold over one million copies.
In 1970, Lloyd surprised the music world by walking away from performing just at the point that he was dubbed a jazz superstar. Actually, he was just following a trajectory that was taking him closer to the essence of the music he was hearing. During the 1970s, Lloyd played occasionally with The Beach Boys, both on their studio recordings and as a member of their touring band. When approached by pianist Michel Petrucciani in 1981, he resumed performing for two years to help Petrucciani get a footing on the world stage, before retreating again to his secluded life in Big Sur. Following a near-death experience in 1986, Lloyd decided to rededicate himself to music. In 1989, he reestablished an active touring schedule and began recording for ECM Records. Noteworthy albums include Fish Out Of Water, Canto, Voice In The Night, The Water Is Wide (featuring Brad Mehldau, John Abercrombie, Larry Grenadier, and Billy Higgins), and Sangam with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland.
His “New Quartet” with Jason Moran (piano), Reuben Rogers (bass), and Eric Harland (drums) has three recordings on ECM—Rabo de Nube (2008), which was voted #1 recording for the 2008 Jazz Times Readers and Critics Poll, and Mirror (2010) and Passin’ Thru on Blue Note Records (2017). Commissioned by Jazztopad in Wroclaw, Poland, to write a new composition to premiere at their 2013 festival, Lloyd wrote Wild Man Dance Suite for piano, bass, drums, cimbalom, and lyra, released on Blue Note Records in April 2015. Lloyd formed a new group called The Marvels featuring Bill Frisell on guitar, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, and Greg Leisz on steel guitar. Their first release, I Long To See You (Blue Note Records 2016), featured guest tracks by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. Vanished Gardens (Blue Note 2018) is a Marvels collaboration with the great American singer and poet Lucinda Williams.
Lloyd maintains an active performance and recording schedule with the New Quartet, Sangam, Maria Farantouri, the Marvels, and special projects around the world. He celebrated his 75th birthday with concerts in the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum and the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Lloyd and Jason Moran were commissioned by Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet to compose the score for a new ballet, Azoth, which had its world premiere in October 2019.
In celebration of his 80th birthday in 2018, Blue Note Records released a limited-edition deluxe box set, 8 Kindred Spirits, Live from the Lobero, featuring fellow Memphian, Booker T. Jones. Tone Poem, with the Marvels (2021), won the Deutche Jazz Preis. In 2022, he released a Trio of Trios over a period of six months—each with a different ensemble. The first was “Chapel” with guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan; the second was “Ocean” with pianist Gerald Clayton and guitarist Anthony Wilson; and the third, “Sacred Thread” with table master Zakir Hussain and guitarist Julian Lage. His release “The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow” was recorded on his 85th birthday in 2023 with Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier, and Brian Blade. The album won the prestigious 2024 Edison Prize in the Netherlands. On his 87th birthday in March 2025, Lloyd recorded “Figure In Blue” with Jason Moran and Marvin Sewell. His most recent release on Blue Note, Sangam & Friends, is an homage to his dear friend, Zakir Hussain. Lloyd has been enjoying a blinding flash of creativity over the past decade. At an age when many other musicians are beginning to wind down their activities, Lloyd has released a string of acclaimed and powerful albums that reveal an elder statesman with powers undiminished, and an all-encompassing vision born of the wisdom of experience.
Longworth-Anderson Series pre-concert reception from 6:30-8 p.m. features live local music, curated bites from Ollie’s Trolley, slices from N.Y.P.D. Pizza, craft beer tastings from HighGrain Brewing Co., and grain-to-glass spirits from Northern Row Brewery & Distillery.
Charles Lloyd with James Francies, Larry Grenadier & Kweku Sumbry
Charles Lloyd is an NEA Jazz Master and recipient of the prestigious French honor, l’Ordre Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. He was voted DownBeat Magazine’s Artist of the Year in 1967 and 2023, and in 2024 was honored with a rare DownBeat Critics Poll quadruple crown—Hall of Fame, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Tenor Saxophonist of the Year—John Coltrane being the only other artist to receive such honor. Lloyd has a legendary history in the music world, and could certainly be in a position to slow down and rest on his laurels. The depth of his expression reflects a lifetime of experience. But looking back has never been of great interest to this tender warrior; “Go forward” is his motto, as he keeps shifting to a higher, well-calibrated gear.
In 1956, Lloyd moved to Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California. During this period, he played in Gerald Wilson’s big band, and formed his own group that included Billy Higgins, Don Cherry, Bobby Hutcherson, Scott LaFaro, and Terry Trotter. Lloyd joined Chico Hamilton in 1960. His influence as a composer quickly pushed the group in a more progressive post-bop direction when Hamilton asked him to be the group’s “music director.” In 1964, Lloyd left Hamilton’s group to join alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. He recorded two albums as a leader for Columbia Records, Discovery and Of Course, Of Course; his sidemen included Gabor Szabo, Don Friedman, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, and Pete La Roca. In 1965 Lloyd formed a quartet with pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. It was a meeting of straight-ahead post-bop, free jazz, rock, and world music. Their sound quickly caught the attention of jazz fans and critics. They achieved crossover success with young rock fans and became the first jazz group to play in the famed Fillmore. The album Forest Flower, Live at Monterey sold over one million copies.
In 1970, Lloyd surprised the music world by walking away from performing just at the point that he was dubbed a jazz superstar. Actually, he was just following a trajectory that was taking him closer to the essence of the music he was hearing. During the 1970s, Lloyd played occasionally with The Beach Boys, both on their studio recordings and as a member of their touring band. When approached by pianist Michel Petrucciani in 1981, he resumed performing for two years to help Petrucciani get a footing on the world stage, before retreating again to his secluded life in Big Sur. Following a near-death experience in 1986, Lloyd decided to rededicate himself to music. In 1989, he reestablished an active touring schedule and began recording for ECM Records. Noteworthy albums include Fish Out Of Water, Canto, Voice In The Night, The Water Is Wide (featuring Brad Mehldau, John Abercrombie, Larry Grenadier, and Billy Higgins), and Sangam with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland.
His “New Quartet” with Jason Moran (piano), Reuben Rogers (bass), and Eric Harland (drums) has three recordings on ECM—Rabo de Nube (2008), which was voted #1 recording for the 2008 Jazz Times Readers and Critics Poll, and Mirror (2010) and Passin’ Thru on Blue Note Records (2017). Commissioned by Jazztopad in Wroclaw, Poland, to write a new composition to premiere at their 2013 festival, Lloyd wrote Wild Man Dance Suite for piano, bass, drums, cimbalom, and lyra, released on Blue Note Records in April 2015. Lloyd formed a new group called The Marvels featuring Bill Frisell on guitar, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, and Greg Leisz on steel guitar. Their first release, I Long To See You (Blue Note Records 2016), featured guest tracks by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. Vanished Gardens (Blue Note 2018) is a Marvels collaboration with the great American singer and poet Lucinda Williams.
Lloyd maintains an active performance and recording schedule with the New Quartet, Sangam, Maria Farantouri, the Marvels, and special projects around the world. He celebrated his 75th birthday with concerts in the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum and the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Lloyd and Jason Moran were commissioned by Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet to compose the score for a new ballet, Azoth, which had its world premiere in October 2019.
In celebration of his 80th birthday in 2018, Blue Note Records released a limited-edition deluxe box set, 8 Kindred Spirits, Live from the Lobero, featuring fellow Memphian, Booker T. Jones. Tone Poem, with the Marvels (2021), won the Deutche Jazz Preis. In 2022, he released a Trio of Trios over a period of six months—each with a different ensemble. The first was “Chapel” with guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan; the second was “Ocean” with pianist Gerald Clayton and guitarist Anthony Wilson; and the third, “Sacred Thread” with table master Zakir Hussain and guitarist Julian Lage. His release “The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow” was recorded on his 85th birthday in 2023 with Jason Moran, Larry Grenadier, and Brian Blade. The album won the prestigious 2024 Edison Prize in the Netherlands. On his 87th birthday in March 2025, Lloyd recorded “Figure In Blue” with Jason Moran and Marvin Sewell. His most recent release on Blue Note, Sangam & Friends, is an homage to his dear friend, Zakir Hussain. Lloyd has been enjoying a blinding flash of creativity over the past decade. At an age when many other musicians are beginning to wind down their activities, Lloyd has released a string of acclaimed and powerful albums that reveal an elder statesman with powers undiminished, and an all-encompassing vision born of the wisdom of experience.
Longworth-Anderson Series pre-concert reception from 6:30-8 p.m. features live local music, curated bites from Ollie’s Trolley, slices from N.Y.P.D. Pizza, craft beer tastings from HighGrain Brewing Co., and grain-to-glass spirits from Northern Row Brewery & Distillery.
