Great trio album by Paul Bley (my first) on the French BYG Actuel label recorded in 1966. Found this at a local store. It’s very accessible with bright and melodic stuff mixed with quiet passages, which are introspective and meditative. ”Both” being the most avant-garde tune on the album. The tunes are a mix of compositions by Carla Bley (Pauls wife), Annette Peacock (Garys wife), Ornette and Paul himself.
Favorite tunes for me are ”Mazatalon”, which is the only Paul Bley original, Ornette’s ”Ramblin” and the slow number ”Albert’s Love Theme” composed by Carla Bley..
Love the fact that there is plenty of room for bassist Mark Levinson to solo and together with drummer Barry Altschul’s contemplative and tasteful accents it creates sparse spaces which are very disarming and beautiful.
It exists two different original cover arts for this title, one with the regular white BYG Actuel front and this one, with the partly blue tinted front. No idea which came first or if they were released at about the same time.
The hunt for more BYG Actuel titles is on and I got another one on it’s way right now.