I speak the solos while I play

October 17, 2023 11:07 AM

Carla Bley, jazz composer, pianist, organist and bandleader, died today aged 87

Best known for her jazz opera (or chronotransduction as the album sleeve called it) Escalator Over the Hill, released in a three LP boxed set in 1971, she worked with a vast number of people over her career including, from the rock side of the fence, Jack Bruce, Robert Wyatt and Nick Mason (who's solo album Fictitious Sports is a Bley album in all but name).

Here's her beautiful Lawns from '87.

"I feel proud and sort of like a shining example, mainly because I'm independent. I don't belong to a stable. I'm not a pet of the recording industry. I put out my own records. We book our own band. I have my own publishing company. I have my own recording studio. Everything I do is totally controlled by me."

posted by thatwhichfalls (35 comments total)

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posted by adekllny at 11:19 AM on October 17, 2023

I had no idea she was that old. She was a staple player on lots Of ECM records I got into as I gave up on pop and into jazz. I still got a couple she did with Steve Swallow.

RIP, ma'am. Your work means a whole lot to me
posted by 2N2222 at 11:28 AM on October 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

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posted by Kattullus at 11:34 AM on October 17, 2023

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posted by UhOhChongo! at 11:37 AM on October 17, 2023

Escalator changed my life.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 11:40 AM on October 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

What an incredible inspiration. Her music is such a marvel. A lot of scores are available on her website. Lawns is great and I really appreciate the night music rendition, followed by Healing Power.
posted by nicolin at 11:46 AM on October 17, 2023 [3 favorites]

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posted by nicolin at 11:46 AM on October 17, 2023

much better vid here.
posted by nicolin at 11:56 AM on October 17, 2023

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posted by niicholas at 12:33 PM on October 17, 2023

I remember seeing her on Night Moves, playing a medley of Lawns and Soul Power with the entire house band and Bootsy Collins. Opened up the world for me with that.
posted by RakDaddy at 12:43 PM on October 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

...sorry, the second song was Healing Power, though I'm sure her version of Soul Power would have been amazing, too.
posted by RakDaddy at 12:49 PM on October 17, 2023

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The Liberation Music Orchestra, man.
posted by LinnTate at 12:54 PM on October 17, 2023

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posted by mumimor at 1:25 PM on October 17, 2023

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I had not heard of her until today but the post and comments here have inspired me to check her out.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 1:30 PM on October 17, 2023

Damn, that's a loss. One of the absolute greats.
posted by mykescipark at 1:44 PM on October 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

one of her best is on gary burton's "dreams so real": Jesus Maria.
posted by graywyvern at 2:49 PM on October 17, 2023

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I've always really loved "I Hate To Sing".
posted by kyrademon at 2:50 PM on October 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

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posted by JoeXIII007 at 2:57 PM on October 17, 2023

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posted by Chocomog at 3:08 PM on October 17, 2023

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posted by Seekerofsplendor at 3:13 PM on October 17, 2023

Interview with Ethan Iverson
posted by staggernation at 3:22 PM on October 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Wait, what? No, oh no! She couldn't be that old! She was supposed to tour the US with dates that were convenient for me to see her! OMG!

She did a lot of stuff I really really love. And even when I didn't love it, it was always worthwhile. It's weird to describe music as "confrontational" and mean it in a good way, but that's what she did. Along with music that was comforting or questioning or whatever else.

I'm so glad to have the music from her that haunts my life. I'm lucky in that I haven't exhausted her catalog so I have much left to discover. And we are all blessed for her being here and contributing to the art on our planet.

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posted by hippybear at 3:25 PM on October 17, 2023

I guess I should say, I love a lot of her work both in small and large ensemble forms, but the piece that really sparked me off into wanting to explore her more was Wrong Key Donkey. [7m53s]
posted by hippybear at 3:30 PM on October 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

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posted by Pouteria at 4:49 PM on October 17, 2023

At Midnight is the creepiest horror soundtrack ever... it's like... the monster is you!
posted by ovvl at 4:52 PM on October 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

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posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:19 PM on October 17, 2023

Oh wow, here's an apparently really rare 30 minute documentary from 1992 showing her working on a piece for the Glasgow International Jazz Festival. It's got really dynamic music sections and really interesting interview segments. I feel like it gives you a sense over a short amount of time the kind of magic she strove to create with her music, if you aren't familiar with her already. I'd never seen this before tonight, and it's left me feeling energized and happy for having seen it.
posted by hippybear at 7:52 PM on October 17, 2023 [4 favorites]

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posted by trip and a half at 2:19 AM on October 18, 2023

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posted by aeshnid at 7:24 AM on October 18, 2023

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posted by ignignokt at 9:16 AM on October 18, 2023

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posted by smirkette at 9:32 PM on October 18, 2023

It took me quite some time to make my way through Escalator Over the Hill but it was worth it. <3

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posted by El Brendano at 7:51 AM on October 19, 2023

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Boo to you
posted by SystematicAbuse at 11:14 AM on October 19, 2023

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posted by cosmac at 5:48 PM on October 19, 2023

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posted by nightrecordings at 6:56 AM on October 20, 2023