

Little wonder then, her fellow musicians affectionately call Bley 'Countess Bleysie' and 'Bleythoven'. In later decades, she's written for and created big bands recalling the musical landscapes of Count Basie and the Duke and in the last 20 years, she's refined a distilled, intimate style for smaller chamber ensembles, in particular performing in a trio with her life partner, bassist Steve Swallow and the British saxophonist Andy Sheppard.
Carla bley plus#
Her back catalogue of some fifty plus recordings tell the story of a musician who's responded in her own unique style to all the current trends, from free and experimental jazz in the 60s and 70s to 80s soul, blues and R&B. One of the most original voices in jazz, composer, arranger, performer and bandleader Carla Bley has been determinedly pursuing her own musical path for more than 60 years. With Donald Macleod and jazz critic and writer Kevin Le Gendre. I am thankful that her reputation will continue, as she is continuing to share great experiences with us, as a composer.Ĭhristine Jensen is an award-winning jazz composer, saxophonist, and educator based in Montreal.Jazz composer Carla Bley encounters the New York club scene of the 1950s. I encourage everyone to share her work with our next generation of musicians, as it will, hopefully, help to encourage new voices to emerge.

Upon listening to her work, I have always been impressed by how she has utilized a vast array of styles, exploring a huge spectrum of genres, from the avant garde to gospel, the blues, and pop. She has produced a large body of work of both small and large ensembles throughout the decades, including a massive opera called Escalator of the Hill, and her output in composition, I think, could easily rival that of Mingus and Ellington in fact, she embodies both of these spirits in her music, along with Thelonious Monk, assembling, to me, the most American of sounds. She continues to produce her own recordings with diverse ensembles and continues to carry on the legacy of the Liberation Orchestra.
Carla bley full#
She contains full control over her music. First and foremost a composer, Carla divides her time as an improviser, pianist, arranger, organist, bandleader, collaborator, organizer, and businesswoman. She has been in the jazz scene for 60 years and is still prolific in her output and in all of her musical activities. She dropped out of high school in grade 10 and soon moved to New York.

My older sister brought one from College and I started leafing through it, and I found “Ida Lupino.” I just got into it because it was all written out, I didn’t know what chord changes were it was simple to play and just great music!Ĭarla was born in Oakland, CA, in 1936. I grew up learning piano, and I first got introduced to Carla’s music through the Real Book.
