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Vancouver-based pianist
Paul Plimley studied European classical music with various teachers from the University of British Columbia, but in his own musical pursuits remained firmly ensconced in the world of avant-jazz and creative improvisation.
Plimley was active as a pianist, composer, and improviser for two decades but first gained significant attention from audiences and the media after an acclaimed performance with bassist
Lisle Ellis at the 1989 Festival de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Quebec. With a stylistic range that recalls the explosiveness and tonal freedom of
Cecil Taylor as well as the introspection of
Paul Bley,
Plimley integrates his many influences into an original and compelling voice. He has performed in a wide variety of settings, from solo appearances to concerts by large ensembles such as Vancouver's
NOW Orchestra. In addition to
Ellis, with whom he has had a longstanding musical relationship,
Plimley's collaborators have included multi-instrumentalist
Joe McPhee; guitarist
Derek Bailey; saxophonist
Glenn Spearman; trombonist
George Lewis; bassists
Mark Dresser and
Barry Guy; and drummers
Andrew Cyrille,
Hamid Drake, and
Han Bennink.
Plimley appeared on at least 20 recordings, including the wonderfully varied Safe-Crackers, a trio date with
Ellis and drummer
Scott Amendola released by the Victo label in 1999. Also noteworthy was his 1998 solo piano recording on the Songlines label entitled
Everything in Stages, which included an interactive CD-R portion that won major multimedia awards in North America and Europe. A scan through selected other CDs on which
Plimley appeared further illustrates his eclecticism: Sensology with
Barry Guy on the Maya label; the
Max Roach-inspired
Sweet Freedom, Now What? with
Ellis and
Joe McPhee on Hat Art;
Density of the Lovestruck Demons with
Ellis and drummer Donald Robinson on Music and Arts; Stable Chaos with the Rosco Blur Quartet on Red Toucan;
Yo Miles!, a tribute to
Miles Davis' electric music led by guitarist
Henry Kaiser and trumpeter
Wadada Leo Smith on Shanachie; and WOWOW by
the NOW Orchestra on Spool.
Plimley received Canadian grant support for advanced rhythm study with South Indian percussionist
Trichy Sankaran; he was also commissioned to write a piece for the Gamelan Ensemble of Vancouver. His concert appearances included performances at the du Maurier International Jazz Festival in Vancouver, New York's Knitting Factory and the De Singel Concert Hall in Antwerp. During May 2000,
Plimley returned once again to the Victoriaville festival stage, performing solo in a three-pianist show that also included sets by
Cecil Taylor and
Marilyn Crispell.
Paul Plimley died from cancer on May 18, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; he was 69 years old. ~ Dave Lynch