title: Introducing Paul Bley
text: # Introducing Paul Bley
  
  Introducing Paul Bley is the debut album by Canadian jazz pianist Paul Bley recorded in 1953 and released on Charles Mingus' Debut label.
  
  ## Reception
  
  The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "Paul Bley may not have been distinctive this early on but he clearly had a potentially strong future". The Penguin Guide to Jazz called it "that astonishing debut with Mingus and Blakey on which he sounds edgy and a little cautious on the standards but absolutely secure in his technique".
  
  Professional ratings :
  
  | Review scores ||
  | - | - |
  | Source | Rating |
  | AllMusic | |
  | The Penguin Guide to Jazz | |
  
  ## Track listing
  
  * "Opus 1" (Paul Bley)- 4:08
  * "Opus 1 (Alternate Take) (Paul Bley) - 3:21 Bonus track on CD reissue
  * "(Teapot) Walkin'" (Richard Carpenter) - 4:28
  * "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy van Heusen) - 4:03
  * "Spontaneous Combustion" (Paul Bley) – 4:15
  * "Split Kick" (Horace Silver) - 3:05
  * "I Can't Get Started" (Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke) - 3:37
  * "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots) - 3:22 Bonus track on CD reissue
  * "The Theme" (Paul Bley) - 3:40 Bonus track on CD reissue
  * "This Time the Dream's on Me" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) - 3:07 Bonus track on CD reissue
  * "Zootcase" (Zoot Sims) - 2:33 Bonus track on CD reissue
  
     * Recorded in New York City on November 30, 1953.
  
  ## Personnel
  
  * Paul Bley — piano
  * Charles Mingus — bass
  * Art Blakey — drums
  