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Modern Chant
Studio album by Paul Bley Trio
Released	November 25, 1994
Recorded	September 17, 1994
Studio	Masuo Studio, NYC
Genre	Jazz
Length	51:48
Label	Venus TKCV-79074
Producer	Todd Barkan
Paul Bley chronology
Chaos (1994) Modern Chant (1994) Emerald Blue (1994)

Modern Chant (subtitled Inspiration from Gregorian Chant) is an album by pianist Paul Bley, cellist David Eyges, and drummer Bruce Ditmas recorded in 1994 and released on the Japanese Venus label.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell states "this enjoyable, offbeat trio album featuring the unusual combination of Bley's piano, David Eyges' electric cello and Bruce Ditmas' drums seems to have very little to do with Gregorian chant per se ... Only "Digitant" seems to breathe some of the ambience of chant in its thematic material. Eyges' cello usually fills in the traditional function of a bass—albeit a very light-toned bass—while occasionally forming dissonant arco (bowed) counterlines around the piano. Bley's playing is often brilliantly unpredictable, difficult to categorize, and thus, able to stand out from the pack". In JazzTimes Bill Bennett wrote "Bley is a fountain of ideas, sometimes suggesting divergent harmonic and melodic directions, sometimes reveling in the sound of a lone tone cluster ringing through the pulse. Eyges takes full advantage of the range of his instrument, moving between rhythmic and melodic contributions with grace and ingenuity. Ditmas respects the flexible time sense that Bley brings to bear, contributing texture and color as well as pulse to the proceedings".

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Bley, David Eyges and Bruce Ditmas.

1. "The New You" - 3:59
2. "Sweet Talk" - 4:31
3. "Funhouse" - 5:34
4. "Please Don't" - 5:54
5. "Wisecracks" - 5:40
6. "Spot" - 3:43
7. "Russell" - 7:33
8. "Digitant" - 4:40
9. "Decompose" - 5:05
10. "Loose Change" - 5:09

Personnel

• Paul Bley – piano
• David Eyges – electric cello
• Bruce Ditmas – drums

References

1. Paul Bley catalog accessed January 28, 2017
2. Venus Records discography accessed January 28, 2017
3. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. Paul Bley – Modern Chant: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
4. Bennett, B. JazzTimes Review, accessed January 30, 2016

• Venus Records albums
• Paul Bley albums
• 1994 albums