Introducing Paul Bley

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".[2] 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".[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]

1. "Opus 1" (Paul Bley)- 4:08
2. "Opus 1 (Alternate Take) (Paul Bley) - 3:21 Bonus track on CD reissue
3. "(Teapot) Walkin'" (Richard Carpenter) - 4:28
4. "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy van Heusen) - 4:03
5. "Spontaneous Combustion" (Paul Bley) – 4:15
6. "Split Kick" (Horace Silver) - 3:05
7. "I Can't Get Started" (Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke) - 3:37
8. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots) - 3:22 Bonus track on CD reissue
9. "The Theme" (Paul Bley) - 3:40 Bonus track on CD reissue
10. "This Time the Dream's on Me" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) - 3:07 Bonus track on CD reissue
11. "Zootcase" (Zoot Sims) - 2:33 Bonus track on CD reissue

• Recorded in New York City on November 30, 1953.

• Paul Bley — piano
• Charles Mingus — bass
• Art Blakey — drums