Paul Bley
Inspired by this post by Taxi Driver...
One of the more consistent and individual pianists in jazz/improvised music, Paul Bley has been hitting ivories in new ways since the age of seven, according to his biography.
What I particularly appreciate about Bley is the way that his improvisations never lose sight of melody. Even in the most tenous moments of Bley's music, there is the sense of song. Here are two great examples: Fair Share is a duet with Gary Peacock recorded in Oslo in September 1991, and Noosphere is performed with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, from an excellent trio date recorded in New York in 1999 for ECM. Touching base with tranquility indeed...
Paul Bley - Fair Share
From In the Evenings Out There: ECM 1488 [Buy]
Paul Bley - Noosphere
From Not Two, Not One: ECM 1670 [Buy]
Oh, and I got sunburnt yesterday. Summer must be just around the corner...
One of the more consistent and individual pianists in jazz/improvised music, Paul Bley has been hitting ivories in new ways since the age of seven, according to his biography.
What I particularly appreciate about Bley is the way that his improvisations never lose sight of melody. Even in the most tenous moments of Bley's music, there is the sense of song. Here are two great examples: Fair Share is a duet with Gary Peacock recorded in Oslo in September 1991, and Noosphere is performed with Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, from an excellent trio date recorded in New York in 1999 for ECM. Touching base with tranquility indeed...
Paul Bley - Fair Share
From In the Evenings Out There: ECM 1488 [Buy]
Paul Bley - Noosphere
From Not Two, Not One: ECM 1670 [Buy]
Oh, and I got sunburnt yesterday. Summer must be just around the corner...
Photo Copyright Jimmy Katz
posted by etnobofin @ 16:48
3 Comments:
At 12:45 PM,
freeman said…
Thanks for the introduction to Paul. I'm familiar with Carla, but not Paul (until now).
At 8:19 PM,
DJ durutti said…
Great post -- i'm familiar w/ Paul's work, but don't have any albums. (like freeman, i do have a bunch of Carla's work -- now there's a post waiting to happen!). I've always loved Gary Peacock's bass playing. I have his December Poems album. very very nice. all solo (acoustic) bass, w/ a bit of Jan Garbarek here and there.
At 8:49 PM,
etnobofin said…
Thanks for the comments :-) I'm the exact opposite - I'm pretty familiar with Paul Bley, but not so much Carla (who I know by reputation rather than acoustic acquaintance).
Gary Peacock does such a great job, partcularly in intimate settings. Some of his solo recordings for bass are just awesome.
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