Paul Bley & Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

Personnel: Paul Bley (piano, keyboards).
Recording information: Copenhagen, Denmark (06/24/1973/07/01/1973).
Photographer: Ib Skovgaard.
Paul Bley has recorded numerous excellent albums for the Danish-based SteepleChase label (including MY STANDARD, IF WE MAY and PAUL PLAYS CARLA), and this is one of the most essential. He's paired perfectly with Nils Henning Orsted Pedersen. They play nine Bley originals and covers by each of his former wives ("Olhos De Gato" by Carlo Bley and "Gesture Without Plot" by Anette Peacock).
Though he's recorded extensively in solo and trio formats, he's actually recorded much more infrequently as a duo. Here Bley's modernist heart is given a firm foundation from the more traditional weighted bass playing. It's a delightful and bracing match. and it's too bad the pair didn't do more together.