Life Goes On (Carla Bley album)

Last updated
Life Goes On
Life Goes On cover.jpg
Studio album by
Carla Bley
ReleasedFebruary 14, 2020
RecordedMay 2019
StudioAuditorio Stelio Molo RSI
Lugano, Switzerland
Genre Jazz
Length56:39
Label ECM
ECM 2669
Producer Manfred Eicher
Carla Bley chronology
Andando el Tiempo
(2016)		Life Goes On
(2020)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Absolute Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Jazz Journal Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
Jazz TrailA- [7]
Tom Hull B+ [8]

Life Goes On is a studio album by American composer and pianist Carla Bley recorded in May 2019 and released on ECM on February 14, 2020. The trio features saxophonist Andy Sheppard and bass guitarist Steve Swallow. [9] [10] [11]

Contents

Reception

Jim Macnie of JazzTimes stated, "The fourth album in a quarter-century’s worth of collabs by the buoyant trio of the pianist, bassist Steve Swallow, and saxophonist Andy Sheppard, Life Goes On teems with the kind of balance that has marked their previous discs, but it also boasts an extra dose of eloquence... The group’s chemistry is ultra-refined at this late date; the carefully calibrated sharing of duties brings a quizzical serenity to this improv-slanted chamber music." [12]

Brian Payne of Jazz Journal commented, "Bley is distinctive on piano throughout the album, Sheppard supple and circuitous on tenor and soprano sax and Swallow rich, warm and melodic on bass. Bley says 'We’re essentially a chamber music ensemble and this allows me to write music for us free of bombast and exaggeration.' If you add 'quirky,' 'original' and 'politically incorrect,' I think her words would likely trump any other description of this most intriguing album." [6]

Paul de Barros in his review for DownBeat wrote, "During Bley’s long and rich career, there have been times when her work has merely seemed smart, but not emotionally resonant. Here, it’s both, and her trio is all in for life—as long as it lasts." [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Carla Bley

No.TitleLength
1."Life Goes On: Life Goes On"6:00
2."Life Goes On: On"4:46
3."Life Goes On: And On"4:10
4."Life Goes On: And Then One Day"9:02
5."Beautiful Telephones I"4:35
6."Beautiful Telephones II"6:13
7."Beautiful Telephones III"6:16
8."Copycat: After You"5:29
9."Copycat: Follow the Leader"0:17
10."Copycat: Copycat"9:51
Total length:56:39

Personnel

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References

  1. ↑ Richarson, Derek (May 15, 2020). "Carla Bley/Andy Sheppard/Steve Swallow: Life Goes On". The Absolute Sound . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Jurkovic, Mike (February 12, 2020). "Carla Bley: Life Goes On album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Collar, Matt (2020). "Life Goes On - Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 Barros, Paul de (April 2020). "Carla Bley/Andy Sheppard/Steve Swallow Life Goes On (ECM)". DownBeat . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Gelly, Dave (7 March 2020). "Carla Bley Trio: Life Goes On review – warm, spirited and even funny". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 Payne, Brian (6 April 2020). "Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow: Life Goes On". Jazz Journal . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Carla Bley / Andy Sheppard / Steve Swallow - Life Goes On". JazzTrail | NY Jazz Scene | Album Reviews | Jazz Photography. February 3, 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Carla Bley". tomhull.com . Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow – Life Goes On (ECM)". JAZZIZ Magazine. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ↑ Whitehaed, Kevin (February 24, 2020). "Carla Bley's Trio Brings A Scaled-Down Dynamic To 'Life Goes On'". NPR . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Gehr, Richard (27 February 2020). "Carla Bley/Andy Sheppard/Steve Swallow: Life Goes On". Relix . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  12. ↑ Macnie, Jim (14 February 2020). "Carla Bley/Andy Sheppard/Steve Swallow: Life Goes On (ECM)". JazzTimes . Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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