Life Goes On

Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow

2020

2.9

Rating

Votes

24%

45%

19%

Distribution

Genres: Jazz Styles: Contemporary Jazz

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Album Summary

Life Goes On is a studio album by American composer and pianist Carla Bley recorded in May 2019 and released on ECM on February 14, 2020. The trio features saxophonist Andy Sheppard and bass guitarist Steve Swallow. Jim Macnie of JazzTimes stated, "The fourth album in a quarter-century’s worth of collabs by the buoyant trio of the pianist, bassist Steve Swallow, and saxophonist Andy Sheppard, Life Goes On teems with the kind of balance that has marked their previous discs, but it also boasts an extra dose of eloquence... The group’s chemistry is ultra-refined at this late date; the carefully calibrated sharing of duties brings a quizzical serenity to this improv-slanted chamber music."

Reviews

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Length: All Short Long

Mar 23 2026 Author

An obsessively cool and casual piano jazz set. Feels improvisational while also having catchy melodies. Classy as FUCK

Mar 27 2026 Author

My analysis of an album like this is highly subjective since I haven’t a lot of context or knowledge of jazz. As such I really enjoyed this. Perfect for a jazz lounge or, for me today, as music to try to unwind myself while still in the midst of a rather busy and stressful week. Great!

Mar 30 2026 Author

As I always say I don't know enough about jazz to have an option, other than I know what I like (last bastion of the ignorant critic). I liked this - many collective decades of honed talent clearlybon display.

Mar 31 2026 Author

Carla Bley mentioned 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Apr 04 2026 Author

Life Goes On is a jazz collaboration album of pianist Carla Bley with saxophonist Andy Sheppard and bass guitarist Steve Swallow. As an jazz album from 2020 there is nothing shocking to discover. The compositions and the performance is solid. It's the kind of jazz that you can turn on as background music for a dinner party. For me that is a bit of a problem. If the music and artist are willingly participating to be forced to a role as an extra, it's not something I would listen to regularly. It's a 3+, but not a 4, stars entry though.

Apr 18 2026 Author

A truly excellent jazz recording and record.

Mar 24 2026 Author

Jazz. Agradable como para tenerla de música de fondo en una librería. Un 4, venga, por esa imagen mental.

Apr 05 2026 Author

Nice, calming jazz music

Apr 13 2026 Author

Yeah, this is pretty lovely! Is this the first ECM entry on either list? Does seem like a neglected genre! Creates soothing background ambience, or rewards active listening, either way. Fave track - eh, "The Beautiful Telephone" suite, let's say. ☎️

Apr 25 2026 Author

It's great jazz but I don't think it is all that exceptional. Solid players but it's something that you can hear at any local jazz bar in any major city. Nonetheless, more jazz is always appreciated on the list. My personal rating: 4/5 My rating relative to the list: 4/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No.

Mar 20 2026 Author

Sweet, nothing special

Mar 23 2026 Author

It's jazz!

Mar 24 2026 Author

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Beautiful telephones pt.2

Mar 25 2026 Author

A trio of instruments that'd be at home playing live music for a fancy lounge somewhere. Fundamentally pleasant, cozy.

Mar 26 2026 Author

Nice

Mar 31 2026 Author

A broad generalization, but one that you can probably get by on: If it’s on the ECM record label, it’s probably going to be pretty good.

Mar 31 2026 Author

It's nice and quite impressive. Not my favorite genre but I can appreciate it. 3 stars.

Apr 02 2026 Author

That was some alright jazz. Got pretty dark in the middle and then I'm pretty sure I heard "Yankee Doodle Dandy?" This was firmly background music for me. Meh 3.

Apr 02 2026 Author

Made me sleepy the first half. Made me focused the second half.

Apr 02 2026 Author

My notes got cleared, but I really enjoyed this one for what it was. The pairing of the three artists made for a tasteful listen with a curious air to it. Not something I expect I'll be back for quickly, but a solid listen through nonetheless. HIgh 3

Apr 06 2026 Author

Really good modern jazz album, I liked this.

Apr 07 2026 Author

It's beautiful, but it already sounded old when it was new.

Apr 13 2026 Author

Pretty cool and chill, nice Friday vibes. The suite structure works well — Life Goes On builds beautifully, Beautiful Telephones has a sly wit to it, and the Copycat call-and-response between the trio is a highlight. Classy chamber jazz.

Apr 21 2026 Author

Life Goes On was a smooth, festive listen, very skilled musicians doing their thing. I liked it, 3.

Mar 24 2026 Author

Sort of Ok jazz in a sort of Ok jazz way

Mar 26 2026 Author

Jazz is much more about the journey than the destination, but having a destination doesn’t hurt. Frustrating to hear such a beautifully-produced, talented trio meander about for an hour without much drive or vision. Improvisational jazz can feel intentional, this LP just lacks any kind of driving energy or vision to make it so.

Mar 28 2026 Author

More piano based jazz/interlude type music. It passes the time.

Apr 02 2026 Author

That was a lot of yazzy yazz. Not my type of music at all.

Apr 07 2026 Author

I’m always a bit optimistic of jazz albums added to this list. This album however did not meet my expectations. The album starts pretty slow and mellow and it isn’t until you hit the halfway mark does this album show life. The last few songs were pretty good but not enough to make up for the coffee shop renditions with some mild improv to make this a repeat listen. 4.9/10

Apr 12 2026 Author

My opinion on jazz albums is formed purely by a tiny goblin inside my brain that either says "this one is good" or "this one is boring" and I have no idea how he operates or comes to any of his conclusions. He says this one is boring.

Mar 23 2026 Author

Jazz. Bloody jazz. Jazz is improvisation and improvisation is showing off. And just like in comedy improvisation, not everything is good and not everything works. There are bum notes, let’s stop l pretending all jazz is amazing. Apart from annoying me I found this album rather dull.

Apr 01 2026 Author

Jizz.