Howard Riley
Shaped
Mosaic Records (UK) 1977
GCM 781 (LP) one side coated sleeve.
sleeve : VG+(SOC, dirts)
media : EX-/EX-(some light noise)
A 1977 album by British pianist Howard Riley, best known for the classic Discussions, recorded in 1968 with Barry Guy (b) and Jon Hiseman (ds). A solo piano work built around improvisations that begin with four extremely brief ideas and develop through a continuous flow of subsequent musical thoughts. Opening with an introduction reminiscent of a quiet sea beneath an overcast sky, incorporating prepared-piano techniques, fragmented motifs are continually reshaped from different angles through shifting densities of sound and carefully placed spaces. An outstanding performance that captures Riley at his best, seamlessly combining the techniques of contemporary music with the spontaneity of jazz improvisation.
A: Shaped - Part One
B: Shaped - Part Two