Paul Bley - Ramblin'

Ramblin' comes from an adventurous period in Paul Bley's career, at a time when he was associated with some of the more avant-garde elements. His playing often takes an attractively aggressive approach, which he tempered in later years. There is his characteristic emphasis on the beauty of the single note.

The gorgeous, lush sounds on Albert's Love Theme, for example, or the slow, beautiful, expressive take on Annette Peacock's Touching are filled with enormous depth. Carla Bley's Ida Lupina is given a sophisticated treatment that emphasizes tonal bliss. As with all Bley recordings, this one takes close listening to appreciate its subtleties, but the joy is well worth the effort. Barry Altschul is spectacular on drums, with effective polyrhythmic support, and bassist Mark Levinson fits perfectly into the mix.