Saxophonist Charles Lloyd, Band Show Brilliant Timing

Tenor saxophonist Charles Lloyd’s roller-coaster career has taken him from a major jazz hit--”Forest Flower”--in the mid-’60s to virtual departure from the music scene in the ‘70s and a return to action in the ‘80s.

Initially following in the trail-breaking path blazed by John Coltrane in his early career, Lloyd emerged, after a period of contemplative inner work in the ‘70s, in his own unique musical image. Readjusting his focus from the world of jazz commerce to a centered concentration upon the music, he has emerged as one of the music’s most creatively original voices.

On Thursday night, in a too-brief, one-night booking at the Knitting Factory Hollywood, Lloyd’s playing was on full display in extraordinarily felicitous circumstances. His group, with regular associate John Abercrombie on guitar, and newer members Billy Hart on drums and Jeff Littleton on bass, interacted superbly.

Opening with “Prayer” from his current ECM album, “The Water Is Wide,” and continuing with other selections from the CD, Lloyd soloed brilliantly, his lines retaining firm connections with the original material while moving in a kind of boundless, open improvisational space. Many of his passages were so structurally conceived that they emerged as mini-compositions, cameo variations on a theme.

Abercrombie was the ideal companion, sometimes moving in close harmony with Lloyd, sometimes countering with brisk, blues-driven phrases.

Hart’s presence, in place of Billy Higgins, who is more frequently heard with Lloyd, brought a different texture to the group’s rhythm section sound. Instead of the driving propulsion associated with Higgins, Hart’s blended a rich array of percussion timbres with a more implied undercurrent of swing. Littleton’s bass foundation was firm, often energizing the flow with rhythmically intense ostinatos. In sum: stunning jazz.

All this took place in an atmosphere of quiet attentiveness from a full-house crowd, captivated while the music was taking place, enthusiastically responsive as each piece came to a close.

Further enhancing a magical night of jazz, the sound in the Knitting Factory Main Stage arena couldn’t have been better. The care and expense that have gone into the creation of this attractive new venue obviously have paid off.