At 86, Charles Lloyd remains every bit the master storyteller, his saxophone full of wisdom and mischief. Backed by yet another phenomenal quartet\u2014Jason Moran on piano, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Brian Blade on drums\u2014Lloyd delivers a solid double album that shows he has not lost his touch, far from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The opener, \u201cDefiant Tender Warrior,\u201d sets the tone nicely and firmly here. It drifts between tender sighs from Lloyd’s tenor and warm bursts of energy from his band. Moran\u2019s piano ripples alongside him, while Blade\u2019s subtle, dynamic drumming keeps everything moving. The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow<\/em> makes room for moments of pure uninhibited joy\u2014like \u201cMonk\u2019s Dance,\u201d where Moran and Blade\u2019s sly rhythmic accents seem to nudge Lloyd toward a wild, ecstatic finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s the quieter moments that really stay with you. \u201cThe Water Is Rising\u201d highlights Lloyd\u2019s flute playing\u2014plaintive and haunting, like something between a prayer and a memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The title, The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow,<\/em> feels like a soft promise\u2014that even as life changes, some things endure. The closing track, \u201cWhen the Sun Comes Up, Darkness Is Gone,\u201d leaves you with that same feeling\u2014a peaceful kind of exhale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This a special album from Lloyd\u2014It holds space for joy and loss, for what\u2019s fleeting and what lasts. It\u2019s honest, soulful, and deeply human\u2014just like Lloyd himself. We are lucky to have him around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n