Paul Bley

[Late]

Whatever one thinks of the current Hat Hut catalog, these releases are indispensable:

[JSngry]

[clifford_thornton]

yeah, great music, though I am not super excited by the ezz-thetics PD action. 

[mhatta]

I'm hoping someday Mosaic will release “The Complete Paul Bley GNP/Savoy/ESP/BYG/Fontana/Polydor/IA/Limelight or whatever Recordings 1957-1970.” Not holding my breath, though. For now, I wish at least someone would properly release Fontana's ‘Blood’ and Limelight's “Mr. Joy.”

[clifford_thornton]

wow, I'm shocked to see that Mr. Joy has never been on CD. Strange!

Ballads/Virtuosi were supposed to be packaged as a double LP on ESP; obviously the sound and pressings on those individual albums from ECM and IAI are much better than anything we would have gotten from ESP, but it would still be cool to see what Bernard might have chosen for cover art. 

[JSngry]

3 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

... it would still be cool to see what Bernard might have chosen for cover art. 

Hopefully not another pipe.

[Late]

3 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

I'm shocked to see that Mr. Joy has never been on CD. Strange!

3/4 of it has seen a digital release.

 

Paul Bley Trios Play Annette Peacock

3/6        tracks from Ramblin’        (BYG)
5/10       tracks from Blood            (Fontana)
6/8        tracks from Mr. Joy          (Limelight)

[Peter Friedman]

I have 1 Paul Bley ablum on Savoy, 1 on Fresh Sound, and 5 on Steeplechase.

In truth, I am not much of a fan of his playing. There is a "coldness" and lack of swinging  on the majority of his albums.

With limited exceptions, Paul Bley's piano playing is not really my "cup of tea".

[clifford_thornton]

He kind of floats around the time, which is something I really gravitate towards. Maybe that's because my sense of rhythm is off; I was never really that good at keeping time during musical attempts in my youth. Seems like I don't have any of his Steeplechase albums filed, but all of the classic 1960s-70s dates are in the racks on vinyl as well as one on GNP, the Ornettes, the Debut on CD, and a smattering of later discs on ECM and Hat Hut.

[T.D.]

I haven't totally gotten into Bley yet, which is surprising. As Peter said, I do perceive a "coldness" in some recordings (Solo in Mondsee (ECM) and 12 (+6) In A Row (Hatology) come to mind), so I haven't collected that many. Ramblin'  is my favorite so far.

[JSngry]

I don't know that he "floats over" the time as much as he does play in it at different spots than most people find. The only way to do that is to have complete awareness of the time internally. Same thing with totality. He can slip in and out of it at will. At will.

His Steeplechase albums usually focus on standard repertoire and more traditional rhythm sections, so it might be easier to hear how that all plays out (no pun intended) there.

 

 

[clifford_thornton]

That is a very good assessment.

To me he seems both inside and apart from whatever situation he is occupying. Visually, I'd say he acts within positive and negative space simultaneously. It's definitely a unique approach.

[JSngry]

His autobiography...he wrote like he played...he says everything by keeping a lot unsaid. But there it is anyway 

 

[Chuck Nessa]

Back in the '70s and early '80s I'd encounter Paul at record label meets and musical events. He was a fascinating personality and musician. I miss him.

 

 

[JSngry]

Season's greetings!