TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN PRESENTS

LEGENDARY SAXOPHONIST

CHARLES LLOYD NEW QUARTET

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009, 8:00 P.M.
AT HOGG MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

“I know the winds of grace are always blowing. I must raise my sails high enough to catch the breeze.” – Charles Lloyd

One of the giants of jazz saxophone, Charles Lloyd’s appearances have been rare and special since the late 1960s. Lloyd’s commanding presence and animated precision have changed the face of jazz, and his influence and experimental nature are still growing. Texas Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Austin welcomes the Charles Lloyd New Quartet to Hogg Memorial Auditorium on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 8PM.

Lloyd made his recording debut in 1961 as a member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet, and gained a strong reputation for his lighter-toned tenor playing, as well as his unique flute phrasing. He played briefly with the Cannonball Adderley Sextet before forming his own quartet in 1965. This group, featuring Keith Jarrett on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Jack DeJohnette on drums, quickly became a favorite of the West Coast scene and toured internationally for three years. Lloyd’s searching solos, influenced by sitar players and Indian druhpad singers as well as being melodic and blues-based, led to inevitable John Coltrane comparisons. Upon this group’s split in 1968, Lloyd went into semi-retirement, focusing on meditation and living in California.

Pianist Michel Petrucciani coaxed Lloyd out of retirement in 1982, and his style and sound seemed unchanged from his 60s recordings. This led to a renaissance in Lloyd’s career, and a number of new musical relationships to explore: Lloyd spent several years collaborating with pianist Bobo Stenson, and captured legendary drummer Billy Higgins’ last years wonderfully on two recordings (The Water is Wide and Hyperion with Higgins). His 2004 Higgins tribute tour, featuring Indian tabla legend Zakir Hussain and drummer Eric Harland was met with high praise wherever they appeared.

This new quartet (appropriately titled New Quartet) marks a new chapter in this visionary artist’s journey, and includes Houston natives Jason Moran on piano and Eric Harland on drums, and Reuben Rogers, bass.

CALENDAR LISTING

Friday, October 16, 2009, 8:00 pm – Texas Performing Arts at The University of Texas at Austin presents the Charles Lloyd New Quartet at Hogg Memorial Auditorium (2300 Whitis Ave.). A map of the campus:
http://www.TexasPerformingArts.org/visit/maps_directions. Tickets ($36 / Limited $10 student tickets / discounted tickets available for UT faculty & staff, seniors and Military) are on sale now at authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at www.TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.

PRESS CONTACT:
Gene Bartholomew
512.471.0632
gbartholomew@TexasPerformingArts.org

Download a PDF (123 KB) version of the Charles Lloyd New Quartet press release