Search - Bud Powell :: The Genius of Bud Powell

A Cornucopia of Gems. Bud, The Piano Genius. Period.

Jazzcat | Genoa, Italy Italy | 07/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh, ... how do you spell genius? I spell it B - U - D. This album is phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal. If you want Bud at his highest peak you have to buy "Jazz giant" and this one. The Verve period is probably the best period for Bud, way better than the Blue Note period. I own all the Blue Note albums Bud but the difference is dramatic. These Verve albums are his legacy. Blue Note albums are a lot less inspired and vital. Here instead, you have the Charlie Parker of piano at his highest peak of creativity and genius. These Verve albums means for Bud what Dial masters means for Bird. The highest achievement for a genius on his instrument and for the history of music. When I saw the tunes list, I noted that there were three "Tea for two" versions in a row. I thought "ok, I'll listen to the master take and I'll listen to the other versions just once...". Wow, was I wrong my friends! I can't get tired of listening to Bud playing the "Tea". He was, he was Bud. Just like Bird. Just like Tatum. A total master on his instrument and an incredible music genius that is unforgettable. And I think I have said it all. The repertoire here is truly wonderful. The tunes I love the most are "Tea" of course which in Bud's hands becomes a scaring rollercoaster ride at full speed! In "Tea" and "Halleluja" Ray Brown and Max Roach played with Bud. The rest of the album is piano solo, but Bud playing style is so rich rhythmically and perfect armonically that you don't fell the need of a rhythmin section, really. Well, he's Bud. "The fruit" is another tune that I really love, a solo piano bop melody that is truly exilarating! But really this album is a cornucopia of gems! "Hallelujah", the wonderful "Parisian Thoroughfare", his trademark "Hallucinations" and the incredible way he reinterprets the standards such as "Nightingale" or "The last time I saw Paris". Well, Jazz piano IS this album. Period. And now it is out of print. While the records industry maintains in print a lot of albums from queens and kings of nothing (I don't even want to write those names in a Bud Powell review). Nice times musically the ones we're living isn't it? My compliments ... this said, I was affirming that Bud IS jazz piano. Sure in the fifties Bill Evans took the Jazz piano somewhere else and he did fabolous fabolous things, but only different, not better. But to me Bud remains the man still considering Bill Evans. Bud."