Paul Bley / BLUES FOR RED

These albums somehow seem linked, however tenuously, in the way they are both slightly uncharacteristic of much of his work where melody, space and reflection were often prominent. Ramblin’ is more overtly avant garde, displaying at times an uncharacteristically aggressive approach, while Blues for Red, recorded 23 years later, also reveals different aspects of his musical personality, this time in a solo context. Perhaps not aggressive as Ramblin’ it’s nevertheless assertive for all that. What is striking, however, is Bley’s easy command of both his instrument and his personal vision of the freedom principal.