Ramblin' comes from an adventurous period in
Paul Bley's career, at a time when he was associated with some of the more avant-garde elements. His playing often takes an attractively aggressive approach, which he tempered in later years. There is his characteristic emphasis on the beauty of the single note. The gorgeous, lush sounds on "Albert's Love Theme," for example, or the slow, beautiful, expressive take on
Annette Peacock's "Touching" are filled with enormous depth.
Carla Bley's "Ida Lupina" is given a sophisticated treatment that emphasizes tonal bliss. As with all
Bley recordings, this one takes close listening to appreciate its subtleties, but the joy is well worth the effort.
Barry Altschul is spectacular on drums, with effective polyrhythmic support, and bassist
Mark Levinson fits perfectly into the mix. [The 2002 Sunspots edition features an alternate album cover.] ~ Steve Loewy