Bley is good at verbalizing what he does, but words can’t begin to do what the music does. And I shouldn’t try either. Yet, it’s temping, because in each new Bley set there is a freshness, a different way of self-probing and further revelation of the beauties of sound. And there are few pianists in any form of music who so intriguingly interweave the surprises of both beauty and the intellect.
In the Contemporary Keyboard interview, Bley said that each piano is different but that “what really happens is that a keyboard is good in places. Notes are bad when they don’t have any personality. They may be in tune, but they sit there dull and lifeless. Of the 88 keys, perhaps only 15 are useful. The others are passable; some are totally objectionable. The only way to get good tone is not to linger on the passable and objectionable ones and to emphasize the tones that are beautiful.”
There is also in each of BLey’s pieces a complete though seldom obvious, personality. As in the works in this set. Each is its own microcosm, and each keeps revealing more of its reasons for being in every hearing. I expect this is one set that will permanently be part of your collection because of the uniqueness of each of its parts. And also because there´s more than a touch of mystery in each and mysteries are hard to let go off.
There’s another thing about Bley – another reason why, over thirty years, I’ve searched out his recordings. He has never lost the acute sense of excitement that comes from creating music, from not knowing what’s going to happen. He has never settled into rehearsed reactions. On each recording that excitement, that thoughtful energy, is contagious. Paul Bley exemplifies, in unpredictable sound, the open-ended life force. - Nat Hentoff
Tracks
01. Tango Palace
02. C.G.
03. Woogie
04. A.G.B.
05. But Beautiful
06. Return Love
07. Bound
08. Zebra Walk
09. Please
10. Explain
PAUL BLEY piano
All compositions by Paul Bley
Recorded May 21, 1983
Soul Note 121090 – 2 (Italy)