The Paul Bley Quartet

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars, stating: "While it's easy to argue that, with Manfred Eicher's icy, crystalline production, this was a stock date for both the artists and the label, that argument would be flat wrong. Bley was looking for a new lyricism in his own playing and in his compositions. He was coming from a different place than the large harmonies offered by augmented and suspended chords and writing for piano trios. The other band members -- two other extremely lyrical improvisers in Surman and Frisell (who prized understatement as the veritable doorway to lyricism) and a drummer who was better known for his dancing through rhythms than playing them in Motian -- were the perfect foils."[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz said "The long "Interplay" on the latter, eponymous set, is disappointing enough to ease that album back a stellar notch".[3]

Professional ratings

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

1. "Interplay" (Paul Bley) - 20:22
2. "Heat" (John Surman) - 8:18
3. "After Dark" (Bill Frisell) - 11:55
4. "One in Four" (Paul Motian) - 9:33
5. "Triste" (Paul Bley) - 2:58

• Recorded at Rainbow Studio in Oslo, Norway, in November 1987.

• Paul Bley — piano
• John Surman — soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
• Bill Frisell — guitar
• Paul Motian — drums