Carla Bley - The Lost Chords - Page 2

So do the chords sound "lost". Well...yea. In a film-noirish sorta way. And if you want to hear what I think is the signature Steve Swallow thing, move on to Part II, wherein Steve lays down a blistering and slithery walking bassline.

The funny on this record comes in two doses. First, "Blind Mice", a Bley deconstruction/reconfiguration of the first thing she ever learned to play as a child. Second: "Red". What gives here? "Red" is named after "a chicken I had befriended".

For funked out please turn to "Hip Hop". It's a rompin' tune that makes me think of Monk in his best mood.

The Lost Chords was recorded live in October of 2003 during a tour of Europe. For more insight into the mind of Carla Bley, check out the Lost Chords tour journal on her equally wacky website.

Though Carla Bley does indeed sport an 'expressive' face, I'd have to give the nod to her music.

Expressive is an understatement.

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He is an editor and writer for Jazz.com. He also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org and produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

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