Hagar's Song

Saxophonist Charles Lloyd—whose recording career as a leader dates back to the mid-'60s—has released some of his best work in the 21st century. His subtle and soulful playing on various woodwinds is more riveting than ever. Lloyd teams with his regular pianist, Jason Moran, for Hagar’s Song, a mix of covers and originals. The album opens with a nice pair: Billy Strayhorn’s “Pretty Girl” and Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo.” On the first track, Lloyd shapes the melody just so as Moran brings a distinctive touch to his solo statement. “Mood Indigo” is downright jaunty, with lively sax lines dancing above a piano animated by stride stylings. The moving original “Hagar Suite” tells a musical tale based on the life of Lloyd’s great-great grandmother. He plays tenor and alto saxophones and alto and bass flutes over the course of the five-part piece. In the '60s and 70s, Lloyd collaborated with a number of rock bands, and Hagar’s Song closes with Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” (famously recorded by The Band) and The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.” The duo brings a strong feeling to these spare renderings of rock classics.