Fragments cover

Fragments

Released

If you want to know the true meaning of “chamber jazz,” let Paul Bley’s Fragments be its living definition. The pianist coaxes from multi-reedist John Surman, guitarist Bill Frisell, and drummer Paul Motian a sound of such adhesive quality that even listeners who prefer a groove will find themselves stuck to it. There’s something soothing about the darkness of this music, which ebbs and flows along the shores of in-house material, as well as readings of Carla Bley and Annette Peacock. Surman’s lower reeds do these justice (and then some) as poetry of a lighter order swirls around his storytelling.

Tyran Grillo

Recommended by

Suggestions
Spirit of Nuff…Nuff cover

Spirit of Nuff…Nuff

Henry Threadgill Very Very Circus
Eon cover

Eon

Richie Beirach, Frank Tusa, Jeff Williams
Northbound cover

Northbound

Iro Haarla
Freigeweht cover

Freigeweht

Kenny Wheeler, Brynjar Hoff, Rainer Brüninghaus, Jon Christensen
Rubycon cover

Rubycon

Tangerine Dream
I Have the Room Above Her cover

I Have the Room Above Her

Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano
Making Music cover

Making Music

Zakir Hussain
Book of Ways cover

Book of Ways

Keith Jarrett
Goebbels: Surrogate Cities cover

Goebbels: Surrogate Cities

Peter Rundel, David Moss, Junge Deutsche Philharmoniker, Jocelyn B. Smith