The group, considered by many to be one of the best line-ups he has played with, recorded live in concert for his previous release Rabo de Nube, but this is the first time they have recorded a studio album together. As has become usual for Lloyd the album features both new material and reworkings of favourite pieces from previous recordings.
Mirror includes two new Lloyd originals, ‘Desolation Sound’ and the title track, reinterpretations of original tunes from the Water Is Wide album as well as two Monk pieces, three gospel-flavoured songs and the well known Brian Wilson song ‘Caroline No’ from the iconic Beach Boys album, Pet Sounds, a link that goes all the way back to when Lloyd contributed to the Beach Boys album Surf’s Up. In addition to tenor sax Lloyd puts in a rare appearance on alto and also contributes a spoken word meditation to ‘Tagi’. The release is accompanied by an extensive tour through the USA and Europe and the Lloyd Quartet play their only UK date at the London Jazz Festival in the Barbican on 17 November.
– Jon Newey
For tickets go to www.barbican.org.uk