At 78, Charles Lloyd Is At A New Peak

This is a busy week for birthdays. We can’t observe them all, but yesterday Quincy Jones’s 83rd was a must, and today is saxophonist and flutist Charles Lloyd’s 78th. More or less coincidentally with his recent Portland Jazz Festival appearance, Lloyd released a new album, I Long To See You. It is not by the Lloyd quartet whose performance in Portland was a triumph, but with his other group, the band he calls The Marvels. Drummer Eric Harland appeared with Lloyd in Portland. The other Marvels in the all-star quintet are guitarist Bill Frisell, pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz and bassist Reuben Rogers. The album includes guest appearances by Willie Nelson and Nora Jones. We celebrate Lloyd’s birthday with the album version of “You Are So Beautiful,” which was a highlight of the Portland concert. The piece seems to have become a fixture on Lloyd’s current tune list. Ms. Jones is the vocalist.