Faced with the choice of any single Bud Powell date to aptly represent his intense musical genius, choosing Jazz Giant would not be a bad bet. Culled from two sessions (spring 1949 and winter 1950) this Verve release showcases the master of bebop piano leading a trio -- a setting in which he excelled. With impeccable support from bassist Ray Brown and drummer Max Roach, (substitute Curly Russell for Brown on the later date), an inspired Powell roars through a varied selection of original tunes and standards. In the category of brisk burners, we get one of his best-known compositions, the ebullient 'Tempus Fugit.' Ray Noble's 'Cherokee,' Harold Arlen's 'Get Happy,' and the ever-popular 'Sweet Georgia Brown' are all taken at almost the same exhilarating clip. Powell's improvised lines at these breakneck tempos are marvelously clear and clever; take note of the Benny Harris' 'Reets and I' melody which Powell quotes during his solo statement on 'All God's Chillun Got Rhythm.' Foreshadowing his less torrential later work is the soulful, buoyant, and supremely swinging 'Strictly Confidential,' which displays Powell's early and expert use of block chords to state the theme. Bud Powell's romantic and reflective side is in evidence on the medium tempo ballad 'Celia' (written for his daughter) as well as on two unaccompanied solo piano tracks. Of these, Powell's haunting composition 'I'll Keep Loving You' is outstanding; the subtle tension in his chord voicings, his effective use of contrast, and the consistent lack of clichés would later inform and inspire Bill Evans' solo piano concept. Powell's more florid, stride-inflected reading of Jerome Kern's 'Yesterdays' is directly inspired by Art Tatum. Overall Jazz Giant (and the earlier session with Ray Brown, in particular) represents the best of Powell's Verve recordings. Highly recommended!
Bud Powell Jazz Giant Zip Tie
![Bud Bud](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126136053/620517767.jpg)
Bud Powell - Jazz Giant [New CD] Artist: Bud Powell Title: Jazz Giant Item Condition: New and unplayed Format: CD Release Date: 2008. Origin ZIP Code. Feb 22, 2011 Jazz Bassist Paul Chambers aka Mr.P.C. Chambers was about 15 when he started to listen to Charlie Parker and Bud Powell, his first jazz. It's jazz as business, with an eye to videos, television (PBS will broadcast the concert on May 18) and future recordings. Now mean the promotion of a child pianist or a Japanese tie-in or a.
Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 02:29 | |||
2 | 03:01 | |||
3 | 03:39 | |||
4 | 02:43 | |||
5 | feat: Ray Brown / Max Roach | 03:10 | ||
6 | Walter Jurmann / Gus Kahn / Bronislaw Kaper | feat: Ray Brown / Max Roach | 03:02 | |
7 | feat: Max Roach / Curly Russell | 03:18 | ||
8 | Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler | feat: Max Roach / Curly Russell | 02:55 | |
9 | Irving Caesar / Clifford Grey / Leo Robin / Vincent Youmans | feat: Max Roach / Curly Russell | 03:40 | |
10 | Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard | feat: Max Roach / Curly Russell | 02:51 | |
11 | Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern | 02:53 | ||
12 | 03:12 | |||
13 | Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour | feat: Max Roach / Curly Russell | 03:21 |