Carla Bley

Carla Bley, a pioneering figure in avant-garde jazz and modern creative music, rose to prominence in the 1960s as a highly regarded pianist, composer, and arranger. Known for her work with avant-garde jazz icons like Paul Bley, George Russell, and Jimmy Giuffre, Bley's distinctive style was exemplified in her long-form jazz opera Escalator Over the Hill and collaborations with free jazz musicians like Pharaoh Sanders and Steve Lacy. She continued to push boundaries with genre-bending compositions and regular trio recordings with bassist Steve Swallow and saxophonist Andy Sheppard.

Born in Oakland, California in 1936, Carla Bley's musical journey began under the guidance of her father before she became self-taught. Moving to New York in the 1950s, she established herself as a composer and arranger, working closely with her husband Paul Bley and other jazz luminaries. Bley's career milestones include composing for Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra and the acclaimed jazz opera Escalator Over the Hill. She maintained a prolific output throughout the decades, releasing albums on her own label and later collaborating with ECM, culminating in her final album, Life Goes On, recorded while undergoing cancer treatment. Bley passed away in 2023 at the age of 87, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of jazz music.