Introducing Paul Bley

Introducing Paul Bley
Studio album by Paul Bley
Released	1954
Recorded	November 30, 1953
Genre	Jazz
Length	39:43
Label	Debut
Paul Bley chronology
Introducing Paul Bley (1954) Paul Bley (1954)

Introducing Paul Bley is the debut album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1953 and released on Charles Mingus' Debut label.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Paul Bley may not have been distinctive this early on but he clearly had a potentially strong future". The Penguin Guide to Jazz called it "that astonishing debut with Mingus and Blakey on which he sounds edgy and a little cautious on the standards but absolutely secure in his technique".

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Penguin Guide to Jazz

Track listing

1. "Opus 1" (Paul Bley)- 4:08
2. "Opus 1 (Alternate Take) (Paul Bley) - 3:21 Bonus track on CD reissue
3. "(Teapot) Walkin'" (Richard Carpenter) - 4:28
4. "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy van Heusen) - 4:03
5. "Spontaneous Combustion" (Paul Bley) – 4:15
6. "Split Kick" (Horace Silver) - 3:05
7. "I Can't Get Started" (Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke) - 3:37
8. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots) - 3:22 Bonus track on CD reissue
9. "The Theme" (Paul Bley) - 3:40 Bonus track on CD reissue
10. "This Time the Dream's on Me" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) - 3:07 Bonus track on CD reissue
11. "Zootcase" (Zoot Sims) - 2:33 Bonus track on CD reissue

• Recorded in New York City on November 30, 1953.

Personnel

• Paul Bley — piano
• Charles Mingus — bass
• Art Blakey — drums