Personnel:
Paul Bley (p), Charles Mingus, Percy Heath, Peter Ind (b), Al Levitt, Art Blakey (d)
Reference: FSRCD 386
Bar code: 8427328603867
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE U.S.
For a first time on one CD, the first recordings of Paul Bley under his own name.
The musical life of Canadian pianist Paul Bley has been a something of success story since the beginning. He made these first recordings under his own name in the bebop idiom with such great artists as Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Percy Heath, Peter Ind or Al Levitt but his advanced concept and playing became soon associated with the burgeoning avant-garde and free jazz movement, which he has gone on to develop throughout his life and music. For over fifty years, Bley has remained on the cutting edge of creative music and has always been drawn to the most innovative players around.
"This Fresh Sounds CD of Paul Bley's earliest recorded work contains 19 tracks. The first seven are his first recording on Debut, Improvisations: Introducing Paul Bley with Charles Mingus and Art Blakey from 1953, and the final twelve are from his initial offering for EmArcy in 1954, placing the pianist in the company of Percy Heath alternating with Peter Ind on bass (these recordings are from two different sessions that comprised the album), and Al Levitt on drums. These recordings are available separately on CD, but this is a handy way to encounter the young master among some of jazz's giants."
—Thom Jurek (All Music Guide)
