ESP 1021 Paul Bley / Closer

156 Fifth Avenue, NY NY 10010
MONO

156 Fifth Avenue, NY NY 10010
STEREO

©1966

Some copies may include a folded, black-rimmed 54 x 27cm poster of Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Delights", which reads: "Reproduced by ESP-Disk', Ltd. with the assistance of the New York Graphic Society". The poster was designed for Pearls Before Swine's first release, but found its way into several other ESP releases in 1966–68.

156 Fifth Avenue, NY NY 10010
STEREO

290 West End Ave, NY NY 10023
STEREO

Following his BARRAGE album, which featured Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra, trumpeter, Dewey Johnson, Paul Bley went back to the studio to record a very different album with bassist, Steve Swallow and percussionist, Barry Altschul. He chose works by Carla Bley and Annette Peacock, and one of his own, titled Figfoot, for a series of languid reflections. - Bernard Stollman

Personnel

Paul Bley: piano
Barry Altschul: percussion
Steve Swallow: bass

Track Listing

1.	Ida Lupino	2:55
2.	Start	2:21
3.	Closer	3:28
4.	Sideways In Mexico	2:56
5.	Batterie	3:17
6.	And Now The Queen	2:17
7.	Pigfoot	3:23
8.	Crossroads	2:31
9.	Violin	2:57
10.	Cartoon	2:16

All compositions by Carla Bley, Alrac Music BMI except Ida Lupino (Carla Bley and Terry Adams, Syndicore/Alrac/farnsley Music BMI)), Figfoot (Paul Bley, Pablo Music & Syndicore Music BMI), Crossroads (Ornette Coleman, ESP-Disk' Music BMI) and Cartoon (Annette Peacock, Pablo Music BMI).

Credits

Recorded NYC, December 12, 1965. Produced by Paul Bley at RLA Studios in New York City. Engineered by Richard L. Alderson. Original art direction by Jay Dillon. Digital remastering by Douglas McGregor. Design & Layout by Miles Bachman & Peov.

Press Quotes

"The interplay between these three is startling in how tightly woven they are melodically and harmonically." - Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

"In the final analysis, however, it is his vision that propels the music forward. He fills it with vigor and dynamism, with space and lyricism; nothing is out of focus, every challenge is within his grasp. His eloquence is shaped by his ability to balance silence with sound, as well as his penchant for, and skill with, unusual phrasing." - Jerry D'Souza, All About Jazz

Ida Lupino was chosen as NPR's Song of the Day - October 15th, 2008

(ESP-Disk')