Search - Paul Bley :: Basics

Piano music for piano or music or jazz lovers

Ian Muldoon | Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my humble estimation I place Mr Bley in the same pantheon of pianists as Mr Evans and some few others. His music makes one a better listener. His use of space, and his apparently searching technique reminiscent of Mr Monk's solo piano, assert themselves on
one's attention like few others. His music is haunting (see Ida Lupino on his first ECM solo album) and free of licks and cliches. This CD of music has 10 originals and one piece by Mr Monk. It is exquisitely recorded ( I play my copy through a 508 Meridian CD player, Duntech Marquis Speakers and an ME 850 amplifier) with a full, round, sweet piano sound. I noticed also that at the end of pieces, eg, Track 7, Walk Home, not only is the final piano note allowed to completely decay, there is a significant and proper pause before the next piece begins. This is something not always attended to by producers. Again, take Track 10, Early Alben (a reference to both Early Autumn and Alban Berg ??) which features the low end of the piano, at a very slow tempo, and ends on a note that just hangs there seemingly interminably. A memorable, and beautiful piano record, made in Mr Bley's 71st year. One to treasure. One of his best solo albums."