Presented in Partnership with BluePort Jazz
“Mr. Lloyd has come up with a strange and beautiful distillation of the American experience, part abandoned and wild, part immensely controlled and sophisticated.” - The New York Times
“Lloyd is one of the greats, rather like Joan Miro in modern art, he has no peer save himself. Music of total transport and delight” - Jazzwise
2024 DownBeat Hall of Fame, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
FEATURED ARTISTS:
Charles Lloyd, tenor saxophone
Larry Grenadier, double bass
Kweku Sumbry, drums
CHARLES LLOYD
NEA Jazz Masters and recipient of the Ordre de Chevalier des Arts et Lettres, Charles Lloyd, continues to elevate the art form with each performance and recording. Born in Memphis, Tennessee March 15, 1938. From an early age, Lloyd was immersed in that city’s rich musical life and was exposed to jazz. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 9. Pianist Phineas Newborn became his mentor, and took him to Irvin Reason for lessons. His closest friend in high school was trumpeter, Booker Little. Lloyd worked in Phineas Sr’s band, and became a sideman in the Blues bands of B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, Johnnie Ace, Bobbie “Blue” Bland, and others.
In 1956 Lloyd moved to Los Angeles and graduated from the University of Southern California. During this period Lloyd 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, drummer, Jack DeJohnette. It was a meeting of of straight-ahead post-bop, Free jazz, rock, and world music. Their music 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.
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, Lloyd 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) 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) was voted #1 recording for the 2008 Jazz Times Reader’s and Critic’s 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 2016) featured guest tracks by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones. Vanished Gardens ( Blue Notes Records 2018 ) is a Marvels collaboration with the great American singer and poet, Lucinda Williams.
Jazztopad Festival created two additional and important commissions for Lloyd – the 2017 project titled Red Waters, Black Sky, was an homage to his great grandmother Sallie Sunflower Whitecloud, who refused to walk the Trail of Tears and all of the indigenous people who had their homelands taken away from them. This multi media project, project was written for string quartet, choir and the Marvels. The lush arrangements were written by Michael Gibbs. Lloyd’s wife Dorothy Darr created the video that became the backdrop for the performance. In 2019, Jazztopad requested a new performance of the Wildman Dance Suite, this time with orchestra. Michael Gibbs, again, wrote the arrangements and the resulting performance was a resounding success.
In celebration of his 80th birthday in 2018, Blue Note Records released a limited edition box set; 8, Kindred Spirits, Live from the Lobero featured fellow Memphian, Booker T. Jones. The box set includes CD, LP and DVD of the concert along with a 96 page book of photos commemorating Lloyd’s life and legacy. His newest recording, the sixth for Blue Note Records (2021) is Tone Poem, and once again, features the Marvels.
LARRY GRENADIER
As one of contemporary jazz’s most respected and accomplished bassists, Larry Grenadier has built an expansive body of work that encompasses a variety of significant projects with many of the genre’s most inventive and influential musicians. Over the course of a performing and recording career that spans three decades, he’s earned a far-reaching reputation, for his instrumental talent, for his instantly recognizable tone, and for the sensitivity, imagination and creative curiosity that have established him as an in-demand sideman and valued collaborator.
Grenadier’s trademark upright bass work has been a longstanding fixture in the bands of pianist Brad Mehldau and guitarist Pat Metheny, and has graced albums by a broad array of prestigious artists, including Paul Motian, Charles Lloyd, Enrico Rava, Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Joshua Redman and Kurt Rosenwinkel. He’s also found time to make three albums with his own acclaimed trio Fly, and to record five more with his wife, noted singer-songwriter Rebecca Martin.
“I’m hyper-aware of the balance between a studied approach to music and a more primal, instinctual understanding of the way music works,” Grenadier states. “Having access to technique is useful in being able to communicate and express yourself musically. But music is about intuition and emotion. Compassion, strength, flexibility and stamina are all important qualities in playing music, but the most important thing is the ability to listen.”
“Even after all these years, playing music is still a learning experience for me,” he concludes. “I’m always working on the technical aspects of my playing, but at the same time, I know that what happens on stage between musicians isn’t about that. The level of telepathy and intuition that exists in music, especially in jazz, is a constant reminder of what we’re capable of, both inside and outside of music.”
KWEKU SUMBRY
Kweku Sumbry is a multi-percussionist, sound healer, composer, and bandleader from Washington, D.C. He’s grounded in the traditions of the Djembe Orchestra, and his journey began at age four, studying under his uncle and founder of Farafina Kan, Mahiri Fadjimba Keita. Today, Kweku proudly serves as the artistic director of the ensemble, continuing its rich legacy.
With a mission to heal through the power of the drum, Kweku has collaborated with a diverse array of artists. His extensive work includes performances and recordings with Ganavya Doriswami, Ambrose Akinmusire, Cyrus Chestnut, Solange, and Shabaka Hutchings. A core member of the acclaimed Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Kweku contributed to their three Blue Note Records releases: Omega (2020), The 7th Hand (2022), and Blues Blood (2024). The group was recently honored as Best Jazz Ensemble by Downbeat Jazz magazine.
As Kweku enters this next phase of his artistry, he continues to push creative boundaries. His commitment has been recognized through his selection for the Bloodlines Interwoven 2025-2026 cohort, a program dedicated to supporting and developing emerging artists.
For this performance, we’re partnering with the Laguna Food Pantry and will have donation bins for highly requested food items to go to the most vulnerable in our community. Consider bringing a can (or two!) for donation.
show less
