Reviewed: 2019-06-23
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: This 1999 concert is the first posthumous release of new material by Bley since his passing in 2016 and shows off his many talents. The Canadian-born pianist/composer is one of the most important innovators in jazz music. He was a tireless explorer of new music, technique, and an educator and mentor. There are none of the typical parameters with a rhythm section of Peacock and Motian; they were, by this time, highly regarded composers and leaders whose individual ideas were incorporated into any setting in which they worked.
If You Like: Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Terry Gibbs
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ Mazatlan (11:35) – (applause) piano starts uptempo> pause> drums start> uptempo off-kilter jam> drum solo> uptempo jam with shifting melodies> skittish piano solo> uptempo jam morphs into hesitating jam, then slows to midtempo> swings to fast tempo> pause> uptempo jam> crescendo end
**2/ Flame (5:37) – piano starts slow, swings to midtempo jam> bass solo> midtempo jam> piano/bass duet> slow jam> quick fade
*3/ Told You So (9:48) – piano starts uptempo, quickly slows to midtempo> morphs into a slow off-kilter jam with a boogie-woogie vibe> piano solo soars & rocks out, then mellows> slow build to heavy midtempo jam> slows to slow tempo jam> pause> one heavy note
***4/ Moor (7:14) – uptempo bass solo starts> uptempo jam> sizzling piano solo uptempo off-kilter jam> slow fade
*5/ Longer (5:33) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> bass solo> drums/piano duet> midtempo jam> quick stop
*6/ Dialogue Amour (6:01) – piano starts> lovely slow jam> bass solo> piano solo builds in volume & intensity> slow jam> fade on bass
*7/ When Will The Blues Leave (5:26) – raucous piano starts> fast tempo bass solo> drum solo> pause> fast tempo jam morphs into rocking uptempo jam> morphs into uptempo off-kilter jam> quick stop
8/ I Loves You, Porgy (4:56) - piano solo starts slow & stately, slowly builds in volume & intensity> crescendo & fade