One of the more undeservedly overlooked members of the ECM family, pianist/composer Paul Bley has been one of the founding fathers of the experimental side of jazz, even though at one time he was known as a bebopper for the likes of Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker. Keith Jarrett has gotten all of the accolades for solo albums, but Bley’s output, as evidenced by this collection of tunes from the 2008 Oslo Jazz Festival, is just as impressive, if not more so, than anything the labelmate has delivered as of late.
Bley delivers five tunes, ranging from 6-17 minutes, and none of them overstay their welcome. “Far North” displays Bley’s crystalline touché, with his graceful delivery of notes, while thoughtfully changing the tempo and direction like a flowing stream. Dynamics are toyed with on ”Way Down South Suite” as Bley’s fingers tastefully take you into various sonic moods. He can get inquisitive and playful as on”Flame” and has some dramatic moments on the rumbling “Longer.” But, at his heart, he’s a bopper, and he shows his impulses as he comfortably lays down his pulse on Sonny Rollins’ classic “PentUp House.” The gentility and charm of modern jazz is on full display here, on this exquisite exhibition.
ECM Records