Jose Reyes

Jose Reyes

Album Feature: The Amazing Bud Powell-Vol. One

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AmazingBudPowellVolOne

I will be featuring Bud Powell and his 1949 album “The Amazing Bud Powell – Vol. One.” The cover I placed there is the original cover, the one you see when you look to purchase is different. Bud Powell recorded Five volumes altogether under the same title.  Learn more below about this very important and most influential Jazz pianist. Check the schedule link for play times.

About the Album:

The first eight of the 15 tracks on this Blue Note disc come from 1949; here Bud Powell is at the height of his powers, and the band–Fats Navarro, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Potter, and Roy Haynes–plays with an easy authority. Three takes of “Bouncing with Bud” are included, but the master take is the best. Bud’s solos are charged with struggle, light, and clarity. “Wail,” an up-tempo original based on the “Rhythm” changes, demonstrates the intellectuality and grace of Bud’s thought process. Listen to how the smooth inevitability of Fats Navarro’s solo is seamlessly followed by a rhythmically incisive Powell.

Bud’s presence is strong and compelling throughout. On “Dance of the Infidels,” you can hear him vocalizing behind his solos, and his playing on the manic “52nd Street Theme” is respectfully Monk-like. On the ballad “You Go to My Head” (a trio tune), his touch is infused with a light, yearning quality……Learn More

BudPowellPostAlbumFeature

Biography of Bud Powell and More:

Earl Rudolph “Bud” Powell (September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966) was a jazz pianist who was born and raised in Harlem, New York City. His greatest influences on his instrument were Thelonious Monk, who became his close friend, and Art Tatum. Along with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, Powell was a key player in the development of bebop, and his virtuosity as a pianist led many to call him the Charlie Parker of the piano.

Early life

Powell’s father was a stride pianist.[1] Powell took to his father’s instrument and started to learn classical piano at age five from a teacher his father hired. By age ten, he had also showed interest in the jazz that could be heard all over the neighborhood. He first appeared in public at a rent party,[2] where he mimicked Fats Waller’s playing style. The first jazz composition that he mastered was James P. Johnson’s “Carolina Shout”.[3]

Bud’s older brother, William, played the trumpet, and by age fifteen, Bud was playing in his band. By this time, he had already had exposure to Art Tatum, whose overwhelmingly virtuosic technique Powell then set out to equal.[3] Bud’s younger brother, Richie, and his teenage friend Elmo Hope were also accomplished pianists who had significant careers…..Learn More

2 Responses

  1. Well, Yes Dominic that’s what Ive read. I have realized that the piano is left behind in most conversations concerning innovations in Jazz. It seems that most people are paying attention to the Saxophone, Trumpet and Drums. They don’t realize the importance of the Piano players and their contributions. When I was looking for information concerning George Wallington on one of my latest post, I ran into Dodo Mamarosa, another great pianist who is never mentioned. Dodo and Bud both had similar incidents (beatings) happen to them which hampered their career.

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