| Axis | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Recorded | July 1–3, 1977 Axis in Soho, NYC | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 30:15 | |||
| Label | Improvising Artists IAI 373853 | |||
| Producer | Paul Bley | |||
| Paul Bley chronology | ||||
| ||||
Axis is a live solo album by pianist Paul Bley recorded in New York in 1977 and released on Bley's own Improvising Artists label the following year. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz |  |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | |
Allmusic awarded the album 4½ stars stating "This is one of Bley's most painterly and moving solo dates". [2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz called it "a meditative and in some ways rather melancholy set" and "an intriguing blend of styles and ideas". [3]
All compositions by Paul Bley except as indicated
Open, to Love is a jazz album by Paul Bley. It features Bley performing seven solo piano pieces and is considered not only one of his best albums, but a defining album in the history of the ECM record label. Three of the tracks were composed by ex-wife Carla Bley and another two by Bley's soon-to-be-ex-wife Annette Peacock. The album is one of the first showcases of the pointillism and silence that would inform much of his later work.
Dinner Music is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in 1976 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1977.
Social Studies is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in 1980 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1981.
Fragments is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1986 and released on the ECM label.
In the Evenings Out There is an album by pianist Paul Bley, bassist Gary Peacock, drummer Tony Oxley and saxophonist John Surman recorded in 1991 and released on the ECM label in 1993.
Solo in Mondsee is a live album by pianist Paul Bley recorded in 2001 and released on the ECM label in 2007.
Paul Bley is the second album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley featuring tracks recorded in 1954 and released on the EmArcy label.
Solemn Meditation is the third album led by jazz pianist Paul Bley featuring tracks recorded in 1957 and released on the GNP Crescendo label.
Barrage is the fifth album led by jazz pianist Paul Bley, and the first by any artist devoted entirely to songs by his then-wife Carla Bley. The album was recorded by Bley's Quintet in 1964 and released on the ESP-Disk label, and features saxophonist Marshall Allen in a rare appearance outside his usual gig with pianist/composer Sun Ra.
Closer is the seventh album led by jazz pianist Paul Bley, featuring seven compositions by Carla Bley, recorded in 1965 and released on the ESP-Disk label.
Improvisie is a live album by Paul Bley with Annette Peacock and Han Bennink which was released on the French America label in 1971.
Quiet Song is an album by pianist Paul Bley, clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre and guitarist Bill Connors recorded in 1974 and released on Bley's own Improvising Artists label in 1975.
Alone, Again is a solo piano album by Paul Bley, recorded in Norway in 1974 and released on Bley's own Improvising Artists label in 1975.
Japan Suite is a live album by pianist Paul Bley, drummer Barry Altschul and bassist Gary Peacock recorded in Japan in 1976 and released on Bley's own Improvising Artists label in 1977.
Blues for Red is a solo piano album by Paul Bley recorded in Italy in 1989 and released on the Red label in 1992.
BeBopBeBopBeBopBeBop is an album of Bebop standards by pianist Paul Bley recorded in Denmark in 1989 and released on the SteepleChase label.
Basics is a solo album by pianist Paul Bley recorded in 2000 and released on the Justin Time label.
Live at the Hilcrest Club 1958 is a live album by pianist Paul Bley, saxophonist Ornette Coleman, trumpeter Don Cherry, drummer Billy Higgins and bassist Charlie Haden recorded in California in 1958 and released on the Inner City label in 1976. The album is notable as being the first live recording of Ornette Coleman, made shortly after he recorded his first album, Something Else!!!! and featuring the group that would soon record the classic Atlantic albums The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) and Change of the Century (1960).
Coleman Classics Volume 1 is a live album by pianist Paul Bley, saxophonist Ornette Coleman, trumpeter Don Cherry, drummer Billy Higgins and bassist Charlie Haden recorded in California in 1958 and released Bley's on the Improvising Artists label in 1977. The album is notable as being an early live recording of Ornette Coleman, made shortly after his first album, Something Else!!!! and featuring the group that would soon record the classic Atlantic albums The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) and Change of the Century (1960).
Pyramid is an album by American jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Paul Bley and guitarist Bill Connors recorded in 1977 and released on Bley's Improvising Artists label.