Fragments (album)

Fragments is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1986 and released on the ECM label.[1]

Fragments
Studio album by Paul Bley
Released	1986
Recorded	January 1986
Genre	Jazz
Length	54:05
Label	ECM
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Paul Bley chronology
My Standard (1985) Fragments (1986) The Paul Bley Quartet (1987)

Reception

The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4 stars, stating: "this 1986 session ranks high among his many solo and group outings for the label... Overcast and a bit icy as one might expect, but nevertheless Bley's Fragments makes for a consistently provocative and enjoyable listen."[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz said "The writing and arranging are surprisingly below par and the recording isn't quite as clean as it might be".[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Bley except as indicated

1. "Memories" - 7:26
2. "Monica Jane" (Bill Frisell) - 7:09
3. "Line Down" (John Surman) - 7:17
4. "Seven" (Carla Bley) - 5:44
5. "Closer" (Carla Bley) - 5:08
6. "Once Around the Park" (Paul Motian) - 6:40
7. "Hand Dance" - 2:54
8. "For the Love of Sarah" (Motian) - 5:46
9. "Nothing Ever Was, Anyway" (Annette Peacock) - 6:01

• • Recorded at Rainbow Studio in Oslo, Norway in January 1986.

Personnel

• Paul Bley — piano
• John Surman — baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
• Bill Frisell — guitar
• Paul Motian — drums

References

1. ECM discography Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine accessed August 29, 2011
2. Cook, S. Allmusic Review accessed August 29, 2011.
3. Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). London: Penguin. pp. 133. ISBN 978-0141023274.