The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1 – Bud Powell (2xLP, Mono, Blue Note Classic)

Bud Powell's The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1 pulls together Blue Note sessions from 1949 and 1951 that show why Powell became such a defining voice in bebop piano. First assembled as an album in 1955, it captures him in two sharply different settings: an all-star quintet with Fats Navarro and a young Sonny Rollins, and a leaner trio with Curly Russell and Max Roach. That contrast gives the record its shape, from the fast, conversational frontline writing to the taut, obsessive pulse of Powell's piano-led pieces.

The repertoire is packed with bebop essentials, but the real draw is hearing Powell's own language take form so clearly. Un Poco Loco, Dance of the Infidels and Parisian Thoroughfare remain among his best-known compositions, balancing elegance with a restless, driving attack that helped set the course for modern jazz piano. Alongside pieces linked to Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, the album feels less like a survey than a concentrated snapshot of bebop at full speed.

For this Blue Note Classic edition, the appeal is not just historical. The current vinyl issue keeps the focus on the original album while giving these performances an all-analog presentation that suits their directness and bite. If you want Bud Powell as a leader, in music that still sounds urgent rather than merely canonical, this is a very strong place to start.

Features

• LP, 180g, Mono, Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series
• All-analog mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from the original analog tapes
• Pressed at Optimal

Reviews

• one a strong sampling of pianist Bud Powell at his best. - AllMusic.com