Paul Bley

A pianist of profound originality and a key figure in the development of the jazz avant-garde. Bley was a master of free improvisation who possessed a unique, lyrical, and introspective style. He famously championed the music of Ornette Coleman and Carla Bley early in their careers. His influential solo piano work, particularly the album 'Open, to Love,' helped to define the spacious, contemplative, and atmospheric aesthetic of the ECM record label, influencing generations of pianists.