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Fragments
Studio album by Paul Bley
Released	October 1986 (1986-10)
Recorded	January 1986
Studio	Rainbow Studio Oslo, Norway
Genre	Jazz
Length	54:05
Label	ECM 1320
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Paul Bley chronology
My Standard (1985) Fragments (1986) The Paul Bley Quartet (1987)

Fragments is an album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in January 1986 and released on ECM October later that year. The quartet features reed player John Surman, guitarist Bill Frisell, and drummer Paul Motian.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Penguin Guide to Jazz

The AllMusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4 stars, stating, "This 1986 session ranks high among his many solo and group outings for the label.... Overcast and a bit icy as one might expect, but nevertheless Bley's Fragments makes for a consistently provocative and enjoyable listen."

The Penguin Guide to Jazz states, "The writing and arranging are surprisingly below par and the recording isn't quite as clean as it might be".

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Bley except as indicated

1. "Memories" – 7:26
2. "Monica Jane" (Bill Frisell) – 7:09
3. "Line Down" (John Surman) – 7:17
4. "Seven" (Carla Bley) – 5:44
5. "Closer" (Carla Bley) – 5:08
6. "Once Around the Park" (Paul Motian) – 6:40
7. "Hand Dance" – 2:54
8. "For the Love of Sarah" (Motian) – 5:46
9. "Nothing Ever Was, Anyway" (Annette Peacock) – 6:01

Personnel

• Paul Bley – piano
• John Surman – baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
• Bill Frisell – guitar
• Paul Motian – drums

References

1. Fragments - Paul Bley, John Surman, Bill Frisell, Paul Motian - ECM Records
2. ^ ECM discography Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine accessed August 29, 2011
3. ^ Cook, S. AllMusic Review accessed August 29, 2011.
4. ^ Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). London: Penguin. pp. 133. ISBN 978-0141023274.

• ECM Records albums
• Paul Bley albums
• 1986 albums