Search - Bud Powell :: Bud Plays Bird

Pleasant but not great

07/10/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"These late 1950s tracks originally recorded for Roulette, were rediscovered and rescued by Michael Cuscuna (kudos for his work). A solid, relatively good performance from that period of Powell's recording career. Powell shows flashes, but there is a casual repetitive undercurrent, a lack of dynamic tension, even when Powell hits top speed ("Big Foot", "KoKo", "Moose the Mooche"). Part of the blame is Art Taylor's somewhat boring drumming. He had already moved into a sparer, more Monk-like sound, his terrifying brilliance from his earlier days, dimmed. Compare his treatment of "Ornithology" here to his Blue Note 1949 recording ("Amazing Bud Powell" v.1). Bud Plays Bird ranks with Bud's later Blue Notes. While individual cuts are brilliant, the date as a whole is simply "pretty okay"."

One Great Master Playing Another

Erik Berkule | Decatur, GA United States | 06/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No one knew Charlie Parker's work much better than Bud, especially on the piano. The smile on Bud's face on the cover of this album is symbolic of the way it will make you feel. He injects the same energy into Bird's pieces as Bird himself. The swingin' tunes are so deftly produced from Bud's hands that you wonder if Charlie is standing over him directing his every thought. Bird and Bud fans alike will love this, as well as any jazz lover."

Chipper solo piano

Anthony Cooper | Louisville, KY United States | 12/05/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bud Powell and Charlie Parker made some of the most amazing 50's jazz together. One concert produced the famous "Jazz At Massey Hall" album. Parker passed away in 1955, and Bud Powell was by then considered to be past his prime, due to mental health problems. This 1958 shows that Bud Powell could still play very well. This CD has 14 Charlie Parker songs and "Salt Peanuts" by Dizzy Gillespie near the end. The songs are taken at a pretty fast pace, and luckily Powell had a good rhythm section to help. George Duvivier on bass and Art Taylor on drums keep things interesting and fill in any spots Powell lays out. Most of the songs have good melodies, and Powell doesn't overstay any of their welcomes. If any of this interests you, you should get it.

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