Life Goes On

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!

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.

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.

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

Carla Bley mentioned 🗣️🗣️🗣️

Totally dig, and refreshing to get jazz – any jazz – inputs on this list (particularly artists one knows not well enough, like CB). So thanks recommender. Might be a little on the dry/abstract/intellectual/controlled side, but one fully supports such an approach and any way this is nicely leavened by moments of clear whimsy and lightness and fluidity. This is chamber jazz with a sense of humor, and a determination to take itself not a whit more seriously than it should be taken. Its continuously contemplative, intermittently lovely and easily listenable, with sneaky depths, inviting shadows, and profoundly suggestive shadings, sparely elegant, yet not quite minimalist. The intimate playing hints at an overheard (and highly intelligent) conversation, a fitting coda for a very interesting artist/composer. Great choice.

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.

A truly excellent jazz recording and record.

Every note occupies it's space exactly right. This was lovely.

Classy, cool and smooth af. Listening while sipping my morning cafetière coffee in my best slippers was great, if only I'd put my suit on. Great stuff!!

really really beautiful - 10/10

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

Nice, calming jazz music

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. ☎️

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.

Wasn’t too much excitement happening with this one, but I enjoyed my listen thoroughly. I needed something calmer. I appreciate the submission, she’s very talented. 4/5

Not familiar with Carla Bley at all. Though I realize that Carla's ex-husband, Paul's music is on my to-do list as I trudge through the Globe and Mail's list of 101 great Canadian albums. (Open to Love is also a jazz piano album) (on track 1) Swallow's bass playing is rocking my computer's subwoofer. I'm really liking this "Life Goes On", aka the first four tracks. It's quiet and intimate, but there's enough motion to keep it from being too abstract and ambient. "Beautiful Telephones" is up next; wow, with that name I expected something a little jauntier and more humorous, but this three-parter is tonally much darker than the title track(s). "Copycat" finishes the album with a Latin/bossa nova rhythm, whose pleasantries are offset by occasional dissonance that recalls the previous part. I think I preferred "Telephones" and the title track, but it's a nice, gentle ending. Overall, enjoyed it more than expected. I don't know how it fares as a swan song to her career (she passed away in 2023), considering I don't know her other stuff, but I'd say it worked well enough as an introduction! May 31, 2026

I can't believe I'm saying this but the bass is mixed way way too loud. I love - cherish, even :P - bass. I eventually got used to it, I guess, but it was/is initially overwhelming here. On the whole, though, it's nice to hear a jazz combo just being a jazz combo. I'm nowhere near intelligent/knowledgeable enough to comment on any of the detailed forms within but I just know i like this and will definitely listen again, although maybe while EQing those low frequencies a bit :P [personal unimportant note -> my first reaction was thank fk for at least one day away from the seemingly nonstop prattle of pop-punk and precious indie artists from the last decade. Which is unfair but it's been a month of this - yeesh - and likely this had a positive effect on my rating here...] 8/10 4 stars IMO: Belonged in the book? No.

Sweet, nothing special

It's jazz!

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

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

Nice

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.

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

Jazz that i don't understand but do like

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.

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

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

Really good modern jazz album, I liked this.

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

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.

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

Had there been so.e faster paced songs, this would have been a banger. But everything is just so slow...

Sort of Ok jazz in a sort of Ok jazz way

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.

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

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

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

Could be the greatest album of it's type ever... i don't know enough to comment accurately. Pretty sleepy now.

For the individual that added this - how was the other 1400 albums for you? This was off the beaten track of "best albums you must listen too" however it was great piano instrumental music.

This is difficult for me because jazz is already something that is not convincing enough for me. I mean I respect it but for some reason even after all this time it's difficult for me to find good vs bad jazz because unfortunately it all kind of meshes together- I'm aware that's all on me but still. So yeah, it's cool, but I really can't tell if it's like WOW or just average. SORRY

1.5/5

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.

Jizz.