The Genius of Bud Powell

Occupation

• Piano: Bud Powell
• Bass: Ray Brown 1-4
• Drums: Buddy Rich 1-4

The Genius of Bud Powell is a jazz album by Bud Powell, which was recorded in two sessions in July 1950 and February 1951 for the Mercury label and published in 1956 in Cleff (or Verve Records) by Norman Granz. The original title was Bud Powell 's Moods.

The album

Gary Giddins is one of the pieces that Bud Powell had recorded 1947-1953, the starting point of everything that makes up modern jazz piano. They include the Blue Note recordings, which appeared under the title The Amazing Bud Powell, whose sessions for the Mercury label, which appeared later on Verve. " The Genius of Bud Powell " contains material from two studio sessions; at the first emerged as a trio Vincent Youmans two classics, " Tea For Two " and " Hallelujah". The pianist was accompanied by Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. They document in particular his solo work before his mental breakdown during the year 1951.

The second recording session in February 1951 is one of the most important Powell, especially by those who are unaccompanied original compositions; the pianist plays in breathless, exhaustive short, no-frills miniatures ( Giddins ), which - take no longer than 1 ½ minutes - except for " The Fruit ". Powell's game will be released ( later covered by Max Roach and Clifford Brown) particularly in the piece " Parisian Thoroughfare "; a great rhythmic intensity also contains the following " Oblivion"; the left hand usually plays Powell's staccato -like chords. In contrast, "Dusk in Sandie " an atmospheric, mood- piece, however, peppered with dissonance. " Hallucinations " is also known under the title of " Budo " and is one of Powell's most enduring compositions. It played a Keith Jarrett on his " Whisper Not " album. It to close standard topics such as Cole Porter's " The Last Time I Saw Paris ", provided with stride choruses; be found everywhere in this item of the harmonic and rhythmic touch of Art Tatum. So Powell presented in "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" his dramatic side, the piece is full of dynamic change.

Richard Cook and Brian Morton recorded in the Penguin Guide to Jazz the new edition with the highest rating.

The title

Reception

The music magazine Jazzwise recorded the album in the list The 100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World; Keith Shadwick wrote:

Editorial note

The recordings 1-4 incurred in the first session in July 1950, the remaining tracks in the second session in 1951. Titles 1 and 3, which alternates takes of " Tea for Two ", appeared only on the CD version and not on the original LP but as Norgran or Mercury 78 singles were commercially available. Under the same title was released by Verve also a double LP, which also contained the recordings of 1949-51, which appeared on the Verve CD Jazz Giant. Powell's complete recordings for Norman Granz 1949-1956 were published on the five compact discs of The Complete Bud Powell on Verve.