Greg Lloyd - Early Train - Kapai Music | 2026
With Early Train, Dublin-based pianist and composer Greg Lloyd presents a thoughtful and quietly ambitious second release that leans into the fluid space between composition and improvisation. Built around a core trio featuring bassist Dave Redmond and drummer Kevin Brady, with additional percussion from Eddie McGinn, the album reflects Lloyd’s interest in movement, not only in a physical sense, but as a way of navigating musical ideas without constraint.
Structured with three interludes that frame and divide the programme, Early Train feels less like a collection of individual pieces and more like a continuous narrative. The opening “Interlude I” sets the tone with a brief, atmospheric gesture that immediately draws the listener in, leaving a sense of anticipation that carries into the title track.
“Early Train” itself establishes a clear sense of forward motion, underpinned by a strong rhythmic feel that invites an immediate physical response. There is a natural momentum here, with the trio locking into a groove that feels both grounded and open, allowing Lloyd’s piano to shape the direction without dominating it.
One of the album’s most striking qualities emerges in “Petrichor,” where Lloyd’s harmonic language comes into sharper focus. His chord progressions unfold with a sense of inevitability, moving fluidly between ideas without ever feeling forced. There is a subtlety in the way he connects these musical moments, a sense that the destination is reached without drawing attention to the journey itself.
This ability to move seamlessly between moods continues throughout the album. “5th Floor Up” reintroduces a more defined rhythmic drive, with the addition of percussion giving the ensemble a fuller, more textured sound. In contrast, “Softly Spoken” shifts into a more intimate space, its restrained atmosphere allowing the details of the trio’s interaction to come to the fore, including a particularly expressive contribution from Redmond on bass.
The interludes play a crucial structural role. “Interlude II” and “Interlude III” are more than transitional fragments; they expand in depth as the album progresses, creating a sense of shape and return that reinforces the idea of Early Train as a unified work rather than a sequence of separate tracks.
Elsewhere, the album continues to explore contrast without losing coherence. “Bamboozled” introduces a more playful and unpredictable edge, while “A Moment Ago” offers a lyrical pause that allows the music to settle. “Old and the New” suggests a meeting point between tradition and contemporary expression, reflecting Lloyd’s broader approach to genre and influence.
A particular highlight comes with “Tin Roof Blues,” where the trio leans into a blues-informed feel that feels both grounded and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of performance that draws a physical response from the listener, direct, confident and rooted in the tradition, while still sitting comfortably within the album’s broader aesthetic.
Closing with “Interlude III,” the album returns to the fragmentary language with which it began, but with a greater sense of depth and resolution. The effect is subtle but effective, completing the arc without forcing a definitive conclusion.
Throughout Early Train, Lloyd demonstrates a distinctive musical voice, one that is capable of moving between intimacy and intensity with ease. His playing has a natural flow, guiding the listener through shifting landscapes without abrupt transitions, yet always with a clear sense of intent.
In that sense, this is an album that rewards attentive listening. It doesn’t demand attention through complexity or display, but instead draws the listener in through its coherence, its pacing, and the strength of its musical ideas.
Early Train will be released on the Kapai Music label on 11 April 2026.
For more information
Greg Lloyd Website - https://www.greglloydmusic.com/
