Charles Lloyd - Pathless Path (1979)

American musician Charles Lloyd, who achieved global acclaim in the late 1960s leading a quartet with Keith Jarrett, Cecil McBee, and Jack DeJohnette alongside the million-selling jazz landmark Forest Flower, disbanded his group in 1970 at the peak of his commercial success to retreat to Big Sur. Embracing an inward spiritual journey away from the mainstream scene, he recorded the contemplative album Pathless Path in 1978, which was issued by Unity Records in 1979 and also appeared as a rare pressing titled Koto on ADC Records.

The musical scope of the recording seamlessly bridges spiritual jazz, ambient, and new age. The lineup features Charles Lloyd on tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, and vocals alongside Mara Purl on koto, Kim Calkins on percussion, Ed Drayton on vocals, and future Group 87 members Mark Isham, Peter Maunu, and Patrick O’Hearn. Highlighted by the eleven-minute title track later featured on the Music from the Hearts of Space radio broadcast, the composition layers koto with piano and clarinet, while "The Call" incorporates overdubbed flute tracks. The landmark album receives a modern vinyl reissue via Ebalunga!!! featuring audio mastering by Jessica Thompson.

Tracklist:
1-1 Charles Lloyd - Pathless Path [11:36]
1-2 Charles Lloyd - Pole Star [2:19]
1-3 Charles Lloyd - The Call [4:13]
1-4 Charles Lloyd - Sutras [7:53]
1-5 Charles Lloyd - Koto [3:47]
1-6 Charles Lloyd - Sea Angel [1:26]
1-7 Charles Lloyd - Dancin' Water [1:14]
1-8 Charles Lloyd - Agni [3:56]