Hyman Paul Bley, CM (November 10, 1932 – January 3, 2016) was a Canadian pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing. Bley was a long-time resident of the United States. His music characteristically featured strong senses both of melodic voicing and space.
Early life
Bley was born in Montreal, Quebec, on November 10, 1932. His adoptive parents were Betty Marcovitch, an immigrant from Romania, and Joe Bley, owner of an embroidery factory.
Later life and career
In the 1950s Bley founded the Jazz Workshop in Montreal, performing on piano and recording with bebop alto saxophonist and composer Charlie Parker. He also performed with tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Ben Webster at that time. In 1953 he conducted for bassist Charles Mingus on the Charles Mingus and His Orchestra album. That year Mingus produced the Introducing Paul Bley album with Mingus and drummer Art Blakey. In 1960 Bley recorded on piano with the Charles Mingus Group.
Paul Bley is the second album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley featuring tracks recorded in 1954 and released on the EmArcy label.
Reception
Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "Pick a personality trait of the Paul Bley style and chances are it won't be found anywhere here, as lovely a piano trio jazz record as this is... For the most part the tone of the pianist remains almost frigid in its consistency; volume level rarely varies and the direction of the improvisations is solidly mainstream... The obvious problem with someone like Bley or Jimi Hendrix is that once they developed their totally unique musical personality, their earlier work starts to sound a little boring".The Penguin Guide to Jazz said "At this stage of his career, he's a very orthodox bopper, aware of the blues but certainly not restricted by them, possibly exploring aspects of Tristano's evolution as well, and certainly listening to classical pianists for technique and harmonic ideas".
Track listing
Podcasts:
Paul Bley
ALBUMS
- Play Blue. Oslo Concert released: 2014
- Live In New York City, 16 June 1974 released: 2011
- The Montreal Tapes released: 2009
- About Time released: 2008
- Open, to Love released: 2008
- Solo in Mondsee released: 2007
- In the North released: 2003
- One Year After released: 2002
- Sankt Gerold Variations released: 2000
- Notes on Ornette released: 1998
- Jazz'n (E)Motion released: 1998
- Mindset released: 1997
- Carla released: 1996
- Introducing Paul Bley released: 1996
- Time Will Tell released: 1995
- At Copenhagen Jazz House released: 1994
- Sweet Time released: 1994
- Double Time released: 1994
- Synth Thesis released: 1994
- Diane released: 1994
- Jaco released: 1994
- In the Evenings Out There released: 1993
- Memoirs released: 1992
- Japan Suite released: 1992
- Annette released: 1992
- Footloose! released: 1992
- Barrage released: 1992
- Blues for Red released: 1991
- The Life of a Trio: Saturday released: 1990
- Bebopbebopbebopbebop released: 1989
- Notes released: 1988
- My Standard released: 1987
- Turns released: 1987
- Fragments released: 1986
- Quiet Song released: 1975
- Paul Bley & Scorpio released: 1973
- Open, to Love released: 1973
- Ballads released: 1971
- Improvisie released: 1971
- Paul Bley with Gary Peacock released: 1970
- Partners released:
- Homage To Carla Bley released:
- Fly Away Little Bird released: