Solemn Meditation

Solemn Meditation
Studio album by Paul Bley Quartet
Released	1958
Recorded	August 21, 1957
Studio	Audio Arts Studio, Hollywood, California
Genre	Jazz
Length	33:36
Label	GNP Crescendo GNPS 31
Producer	Gene Norman
Paul Bley chronology
Paul Bley (1954) Solemn Meditation (1958) Live at the Hilcrest Club 1958 (1958)

Solemn Meditation is the third album led by jazz pianist Paul Bley featuring tracks recorded in 1957 and released on the GNP Crescendo label.^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[3]

Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars stating "This early quartet date from pianist Paul Bley is somewhat historic because it was the recording debut of both bassist Charlie Haden and vibraphonist Dave Pike... Bley explores a lot of unlikely material in an early postbop manner".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Bley except as indicated

1. "Birk's Works" (Dizzy Gillespie) - 6:05
2. "O Plus One" (Carla Borg) - 3:15
3. "Porgy" (Jimmy McHugh) - 3:40
4. "Solemn Meditation" (Sam Gill) - 3:33
5. "I Remember Harlem" (Roy Eldridge, Bob Astor, George Williams) - 3:41
6. "Drum Two" - 3:05
7. "Everywhere" (Bill Harris) - 4:03
8. "Beau Diddley" - 5:33
9. "Persian Village" (Dave Pike) 3:16

Personnel

• Paul Bley - piano
• Dave Pike - vibraphone
• Charlie Haden - bass
• Lennie McBrowne - drums

References

1. Paul Bley catalog, accessed June 18, 2014
2. Yanow, S., Allmusic Review accessed June 18, 2014
3. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 27. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.