Search - Bud Powell :: Tempus Fugue-It

Amazing collection

T. Rock | Ashland, Oregon USA | 02/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This boxed set is full of incredible gems by Powell with many other giants of jazz (Cootie Williams, Dexter Gordon, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stit, Fats Navarro, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, Buddy Rich, etc.). There are cuts on this collection, especially on CD#4, that are up there with the best piano playing I have ever heard (that from a listener, not a player). My collection includes many great piano players - Evans, Tatum, Hines, Wilson, Peterson, Tyner, Garner, Brubeck and many others, but listening to this cd along with the Blue Note Best of Bud Powell (which picks up where Tempus Fugue-It leaves off - acting as a fifth CD in the set) convinces me that Powell ranks with the very best.I have noticed that some reviewers complain when the sound quality of old recordings is not very good (eg: Okeh Ellington - which is one of my favorites). I am no expert on modern digital sound magic, but I do know that the sound quality varies on this collection. Some cuts have fairly poor sound quality.Also, I have found two errors on the set. One is on track 19, disc 1, where a fragment of the end of the song is left floating between tracks - an editing error. The other is the reverse listing (booklet and CD jacket) of the songs "Dance of the Infidels" and "52nd Street Theme" - tracks 15 and 16 on disc 4, which actually play in the order of 16 then 15.However, despite the poor quality of a few of the cuts, and the minor errors, the music is so awesome, that it makes little difference to this listener. It is clearly a 5-star set!"

Simply Amazing!

Daryl Johnson | Harlem NY | 04/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This box set of Bud Powell focuses on the early recordings from 1944-1950,displaying the great bebop pianist at the very height of his career.The box set includes four compact disc(86 recordings) and a very nice 48 page illustrated booklet.If you've never really heard this genius of a pianist, this is wonderful introduction to the man who in my opinion was equal to or dare I say better than charlie parker!Powells playing on this set is nothing short of incredible in its creative flow and spontaneity, a must have for any bebop connoisseur."

Essential, affordable Bud Powell

Paul Robertz | Chicago, IL | 06/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I own almost 40 Bud Powell albums, and try to learn as many of his compositions as time permits. I have the Complete Bud Powell on Blue Note and on Verve, and even most of his Mythic Sounds LPs from France and New York in the early '60s. As much as I love late Bud Powell, I can state that this is the one box set to have if you're having only one. If you're interested in later Bud, get the complete Blue Note Box or find Live in Lausanne and Blues for Bouffemont. Proper presents a very informative booklet about Bud's brilliance and troubled career. This was issued right after British copyrights expired on Bud's first recordings for Vogue, Savoy, Blue Note, Prestige, and Verve expired there. Nothing after 1950 is included. Still, this contains his first recordings (with Cootie Williams) and all the sides that initially made Bud famous (Webb City, Off Minor, Indiana, Nice Work If You Can Get It, plus the Fats Navarro/Sonny Rollins sessions for Blue Note, early Dexter Gordon sessions, some collaborations with Charlie Parker, the Sonny Stitt/J.J. Johnson sessions for Prestige, and some of his first Verve classics)."