The Legendary Charles Lloyd Brings a New Delta Trio to Santa Barbara’s Lobero

If Charles Lloyd did not abide by what he calls “the humility sutra,” he could deservedly be boastful about what he has accomplished in the jazz music world.

When DownBeat magazine’s 2024 Critics Poll came out, Lloyd topped the list in these categories: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Tenor Saxophonist of the Year, and Hall of Fame. That’s like winning the Triple Crown and MVP in major league baseball. Remarkably, it all happened to Lloyd half a century after he first broke on the scene (he was DownBeat’s Artist of the Year in 1967).

“My wiring is different,” Lloyd said. “You know how a guy can score a touchdown and he spikes the ball and all that. For me, the creator sets me up where I can’t have the beauty of all those accolades. What I can do is continue to sing my song.”