Bud Powell, The Amazing Bud Powell: Vol. 1 (The Rudy Van Gelder Edition)
2001 | Label: BLUE NOTE
As bop piano goes, Thelonious Monk had the ideas and tunes, but Bud Powell had the chops. More than anyone, he created bebop piano, influencing everyone who came after, partly by adapting saxophonist Charlie Parker's mercurial wit, speed and timing to the keyboard. (Hear Parker's "Ornithology.") His right hand melodies dart and zag like Bird, but his left was another story. Pre-bop, most pianists kept a regular rhythm going in the bass. Bud's southpaw rapped out terse punctuations, for a leaner, looser approach that became second nature to jazz… more »
