Major Figures in American Music OHV 426 Carla Bley TABLE OF CONTENTS a-b Carla Bley OHV 426 a-b with Gregg Bendian June 10, 2012 Willow, New York Side a pp. 1-30 Born in 1936 – sang in church at three – played piano and organ for gigs by eight – father taught piano at home – Erik Satie’s Parade – grew up in Oakland, California, went to school at Castlemont through tenth grade – first experience hearing jazz at fourteen with Lionel Hampton, “Flying Home” – Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan – went to New York in 1954 from Montery – heard Miles Davis – taught how to improvise by Steve Swallow – learned jazz from clubs but struggled to perform it – played gigs from the Real Book – Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, records with Gary Burton, Charlie Haden, Jack Bruce – wrote music for people she knew – “Genuine Tong Funeral,” “Escalator Over the Hill” – met Charlie Haden when she moved back to Los Angeles – engineer for Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry – played free jazz in New York with Steve Lacy, Michael Mantler, Aldo Romano and others in the group Jazz Realities – formation of the Jazz Composer’s Guild Orchestra with Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, Michael Mantler – changed name to Jazz Composer’s Orchestra with Michael Mantler – made Manter’s album Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, Bley’s Escalator Over the Hill, Cherry’s Relatively Suite – started the New Music Distribution Service – moved to Catskills – infatuation with different types of music, but always came back to jazz – formation of band with Jack Bruce, Tony Williams, Mick Taylor, Max Middleton – arranger for Charlie Haden’s Album Liberation Music Orchestra – influence of Bill Evans – Nick Mason recording Bley’s “Eight Tunes in 4/4 on Two Pages” with vocalist Robert Wyatt – “Fictitious Sports” – father did not support her pursuit of jazz – NRBO’s Terry Adams – albums “Night-Glo” and “Sextet” – experience of Escalator Over the Hill – big band and boy’s choir piece “The French Lesson” – Reiner Michalke, George Gershwin. Side b pp. 30-47 Transition from Jack Bruce’s group to own group – traveling and daily routine – her group included at various times Patti Preiss, Steve Swallow, Terry Adams, Alan Braufman, Gary Windell, Bob Stewart, John Clark, Michael Mantler, Karen Bley – band with Gary Valente and D. Sharpe – personal and collaborative relationship with Steve Swallow – players John Coltrane,Johnny Griffin, Lockjaw, Andy Sheppard Billy Drummond, Paolo Fresu, Jorge Rossy, Steve Cardenas – difference between playing organ and piano – Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Larry Goldings – doctorate from University de Toulouse-le Mirail in France - big bandconcerts - “Coney Night Maze,” Holy Roller Coaster - Ensemble Modern in Germany - roller skating carreer. More interview material with this artist may be available. Please contact our offices for more information. .