Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian | When Will the Blues Leave
(ECM Records)
Ecmrecords.com
Although they recorded in a quartet setting with saxophonist John Gilmore in 1964 and crossed paths with each other in other projects over the decades, the influential configuration of pianist Paul Bley, bassist Gary Peacock, and drummer Paul Motian only entered the studio twice as a proper trio: for 1970's Paul Bley with Gary Peacock (which is partially comprised of 1963 recordings by the threesome) and the 1998 reunion Not Two, Not One. When Will the Blues Leave, a live set recorded in Switzerland during a tour in support of the latter album, arrives with an added luster of poignance now that Bley and Motian have passed and left local resident Peacock as the band's sole survivor. Weighted equally between lively workouts and reflective moments, it's a beautiful summation of the shared history of this unique unit and the artful communication between its legendary members.
