Carla Bley - Musique Mecanique (1979)

Review by Scott Yanow
Carla Bley's tentet performs some of her most colorful themes on this often-humorous and generally stimulating set. "Jesus Maria and Other Spanish Strains" and the three-part "Musique Mecanique" are particularly memorable. This is the perfect setting for Bley's music, with such musicians as trumpeter Michael Mantler, Gary Windo on tenor and bass clarinet, trombonist Roswell Rudd and Bob Stewart on tuba making their presence felt.

1.440 (9:44)
2.Jesus Maria And Other Spanish Strains (11:50)
Bass - Charlie Haden
Effects [Walkie Talkie] - Eugene Chadbourne
Piano - Carla Bley
Voice [Child] - Gary Windo
3.Musique Mecanique I (9:45)
Organ [Electric Pump] - Terry Adams (2)
Piano [Toy] - Carla Bley
4.Musique Mecanique II (At Midnight) (7:02)
Vocals - Roswell Rudd
5.Musique Mecanique III (6:27).

Recorded August through November and mixed December 1978 at Grog Kill Studio, Willow, New York.

Carla Bley (organ, piano, toy piano); Michael Mantler (trumpet); Alan Braufman (alto saxophone, clarinet, flute); Gary Windo (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet); John Clark (French horn); Roswell Rudd (trombone); Bob Stewart (tuba); Terry Adams (piano); Steve Swallow (bass guitar); D. Sharpe (drums); Charlie Haden (bass); Eugene Chadborne (guitars); Karen Mantler (glockenspiel)