ALBUM REVIEWS : **** CHARLES LLOYD “Fish Out of Water” <i> ECM</i>

On this contemplative, sometimes ethereal recording, his first for ECM, saxophonist-flutist Charles Lloyd, who tends to look inward for musical direction, reaches a transcendent plateau, interweaving his interest in things spiritual with the bluesy roots of his native Memphis. It’s this Memphis connection that keeps the session from developing into New Age atmospherics as Lloyd plays searching, sometimes Coltrane-flavored tenor with plenty of subtle bluesy touches, all in an airy, understated way.

His flute work on “Tellaro,” isn’t as successful; though meditative enough, it too often approaches Paul Horn-ish banality. Pianist Bobo Stenson, bassist Palle Danielsson and drummer Jon Christensen sound remarkably similar to trios led by pianist Keith Jarrett, the pianist from the original Lloyd Quartet.