Bud Powell

Bud Powell's health and ability to play brilliant bop piano clearly were both in decline between the mid-'50s to the early '60s. But living in Paris seemed to suit him, and these sessions from Copenhagen, Denmark in 1962 show Powell in relatively good form, four years before his death. This recording has importance for two reasons beyond Powell's ability to perform up to snuff. The rhythm section features Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, who hereafter would become the most important virtuoso jazz bassist in Europe and perhaps in the world. He was only 15 years old at the time of these dates. Also, Powell was working on new material, and two of the tunes he had not performed previously crop up. They are the slightly reharmonized standard "The Best Thing for You" as Powell toys and plays with spontaneous key changes, and Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser," parsed very witty, was a tune he was just beginning to employ, but done his way. There's the scorching "Move," with a whopping 11 solo choruses, and solid melodic content during "Bouncing with Bud." Powell's vocal affectations underneath his piano lines are more noticeable than before, perhaps foreshadowing his anguish and physical demeanor. The good swinger "Hot House" perhaps exposes Powell as being tired, with rhythm changes loosely drawn on the admittedly complex and tricky melody. "Rifftide," based on the standard "Lady Be Good," has had many alternate titles including "Hackensack," "Merry Lee," and "Toll Bridge." It's treated with staggered phrasings à la Monk, and displays a Bud Powell using more fluid dynamics than in his previous few years. In that regard, his version of "I Remember Clifford" delineates this more patient, relaxed approach that living in Europe offered him. This CD has very good sound, and a truly fine band with Pedersen and then 36-year-old Danish drummer William Schiopffe. It is heartening to know there still are unreleased tapes of Powell to be issued, and this one, for collectors or completists, should be one they will want to own. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide