Introducing Paul Bley
# Introducing Paul Bley

Introducing Paul Bley is the debut album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1953 and released on Charles Mingus' Debut label.

## Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Paul Bley may not have been distinctive this early on but he clearly had a potentially strong future". The Penguin Guide to Jazz called it "that astonishing debut with Mingus and Blakey on which he sounds edgy and a little cautious on the standards but absolutely secure in his technique".

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | |

## Track listing

* "Opus 1" (Paul Bley)- 4:08
* "Opus 1 (Alternate Take) (Paul Bley) - 3:21 Bonus track on CD reissue
* "(Teapot) Walkin'" (Richard Carpenter) - 4:28
* "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy van Heusen) - 4:03
* "Spontaneous Combustion" (Paul Bley) – 4:15
* "Split Kick" (Horace Silver) - 3:05
* "I Can't Get Started" (Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke) - 3:37
* "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots) - 3:22 Bonus track on CD reissue
* "The Theme" (Paul Bley) - 3:40 Bonus track on CD reissue
* "This Time the Dream's on Me" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) - 3:07 Bonus track on CD reissue
* "Zootcase" (Zoot Sims) - 2:33 Bonus track on CD reissue

   * Recorded in New York City on November 30, 1953.

## Personnel

* Paul Bley — piano
* Charles Mingus — bass
* Art Blakey — drums
