Paul Bley: Open, To Love (ECM 4505319)
By 1972, Bley had already released 18 records as a leader, but predominantly in larger contexts or trios and nothing close to a solo project. The same year, ECM was only three years old, but Manfred Eicher was eager to record with Bley even though he already had two previous records on the German label (With Gary Peacock & Ballads). These were unreleased at the time and Eicher wanted full control in the studio, and was determined to capture Bley solo. He did so here in Oslo at the Arne Bendiksen studio.
Open, To Love would ultimately form the third chapter of ECM’s pioneering documentation of modern solo piano following Chick Corea’s Solo Improvisations, Keith Jarrett’s Facing You and an almost gradual extension to his work on Ballads.
The track listing is largely split between compositions from Paul and Carla Bley with a couple of additions from Annette Peacock (Open, To Love & Nothing Ever Was, Anyway). There’s a running theme of space in each piece, letting notes resonate and carefully planting melodies with purpose as well as welcoming silence with minimalism.
This Luminessence ECM vinyl has been cut from the initial masters, includes the original artwork and has detailed liner notes from Greg Buium (currently devoting his time towards a Paul Bley biography).
Chick Corea: Piano Improvisations Vol. 1 (ECM 6523450)
The creative ideas that Corea presents in these improvised sketches follow one another in a convincing and logical manner but nonetheless can also often switch direction abruptly, allowing an unpredictable, engaging and certainly an exciting listen for the audience. As the title suggests, many of the pieces were simply created in the moment but the album includes Sometime Ago, a small preview of a Corea composition that would end up being introduced a year later in the Return To Forever band.
At the time of release back in 1971, this was overshadowed by a decade that saw jazz sweep into the mainstream market with a focus on electronics; Corea had already been working with Miles Davis on his early fusion projects and as part of his live setups. Corea said “This was a new way for me to create at the time. It was very invigorating and a healthy challenge. Playing solo is the most personal and intimate a musical communication can be.”
ECM’s vinyl reissue series Luminessence continues with this release cut from the original masters, packaged with the original cover art and including a gatefold sleeve with Corea’s performer notes. It’s somewhat been overshadowed by Jarrett’s series of solo albums but there’s no questioning how influential this album was at the time. It’s widely regarded as the first solo piano album of the modern era.
