| Basics | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Paul Bley |
| Cover: | Basics (album).jpg |
| Released: | January 30, 2001 |
| Recorded: | July 4, 2000 |
| Studio: | Studio Tempo, Montreal, Canada |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 60:06 |
| Label: | Justin Time JUST 154-2 |
| Producer: | Jim West |
| Chronology: | Paul Bley |
| Prev Title: | Not Two, Not One |
| Prev Year: | 1998 |
| Next Title: | Solo in Mondsee |
| Next Year: | 2001 |
Basics is a solo album by the pianist Paul Bley, recorded in 2000 and released on the Justin Time label.[1] [2]
The AllMusic review by Glenn Astarita stated: "Paul Bley intermingles askew phraseology with geometrically fabricated lines and endearing propositions. Recommended!".[3] All About Jazz 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".[4] Metro Times 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".[5] JazzTimes 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".[6]
All compositions by Paul Bley except as indicated