''Basics'' is a

solo album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records coll ...

by the pianist

Paul Bley Paul Bley, CM (November 10, 1932 – January 3, 2016) was a jazz pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing and his early live performance on the Moog and ...

, recorded in 2000 and released on the Justin Time label.

Reception

The

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

review by Glenn Astarita stated: "Paul Bley intermingles askew phraseology with geometrically fabricated lines and endearing propositions. Recommended!".Astarita, G
AllMusic Review
accessed June 28, 2014 ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'' wrote that "like any other true artist, Bley continues to grow and investigate, and ''Basics'' shares the complexity of his thought conveyed through his medium of expression". ''

Metro Times The ''Detroit Metro Times'' is a progressive alternative weekly located in Detroit, Michigan. It is the largest circulating weekly newspaper in the metro Detroit area. History and content Supported entirely by advertising, it is distributed f ...

'' noted: "Still impressionistic, he's developed a more fluid approach, which makes listening to the unaccompanied instrument seem like less work than it used to be. His probing comes across as less portentous now, encased in a lyrical flow of playful sensuality".Walls, R. C.
Metro Times Review
April 11, 2001 ''

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade of growth ...

'' observed: "Although subtly shaded dynamics are a key feature of this disc, there's no denying Bley's percussive attack and firm tone, perhaps originally conceived to cut through the chatter in a noisy club".Robinson, G.
JazzTimes review
July/August, 2001

Track listing

''All compositions by Paul Bley except as indicated'' # "Love Lost" - 4:41 # "Basics" - 2:29 # "Speed Kills" - 2:04 # "Told You So" - 9:15 # "Lucky" - 8:19 # "Chet" - 7:51 # "Walk Home" - 7:35 # "Blues Waltz" - 6:18 # "Monk's Mood" (

Thelonious Monk Thelonious Sphere Monk (, October 10, 1917 – February 17, 1982) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including " 'Round Midnight", "B ...

) - 4:46 # "Early Alben" - 2:51 # "Startled" - 4:01

Personnel

– piano

References

{{Authority control Justin Time Records albums Paul Bley albums Solo piano jazz albums 2001 albums