Paul Bley

Unlike some of his free jazz brethren, pianist Paul Bley never entirely forsook his more conventional influences: well into the 21st century, he alternated forward-looking solo piano showcases with swinging trio dates alongside cool-jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz and bassist Steve Swallow. Classically trained as a youngster, the Montreal native entered the post-bop and cool jazz scene in the early 1950s, working with giants from Charlie Parker and Lester Young to Charles Mingus, who produced and played on Bley's first album as a leader in 1953. A 1958 stint in California led to a band featuring Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry and Charlie Haden, as well as Paul's short-lived marriage to experimental composer and pianist Carla Bley; both became pivotal moments in the development of free jazz. Bley's work became even more progressive in the late '60s: he pioneered the use of synthesizers in jazz alongside his second wife, singer-songwriter Annette Peacock, and a 1974 date for his own Improvising Artists label marked the recording debut of fusion giants Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius. But throughout his career, Bley has kept in touch with his musical roots, making even his most experimental work accessible for more timid jazz fans.