Bud Powell (1924-1966)

Kate Molleson explores the life and work of the amazing Bud
Powell


This week Kate Molleson explores the life and work of a jazz
giant in his centenary year: the amazing Bud Powell, in the
company of Powell’s biographer Peter Pullman. Focusing on Bud
Powell as a performer, prioritising his own compositions but also
appreciating the art of improvisation as spontaneous composition.


Bud Powell was born in 1924 and grew up in Harlem, against the
backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance. He was a gifted pianist from
a young age and became a pioneer of bebop. But he was a troubled
soul and the great paradox of Bud Powell is how there could be
such joy and expression in his music while his life was so
painful.


Music Featured:


Bouncing with Bud (from The Amazing Bud Powell) Oblivion (from
The Genius of Bud Powell) Strictly Confidential (from Jazz Giant)
Floogie Boo (from Cootie Williams and his Orchestra 1941-1944) Do
Some War Work, Baby (from Cootie Williams and his Orchestra
1941-1944) Off Minor (from Bud Powell Trio) Dexter Rides Again
(from Dexter Rides Again) Mad Bebop (from JJ Johnson’s Jazz
Quintet) Buzzy (from Charlie Parker, the Complete Savoy and Dial
Master Takes) Bud’s Bubble (from Bud Powell Trio) I Should Care
(from Bud Powell Trio) Tempus Fugit (from Jazz Giant) Celia (from
Jazz Giant) Un Poco Loco (from the Amazing Bud Powell) Over the
Rainbow (from the Amazing Bud Powell) A Night in Tunisia (from
the Amazing Bud Powell) Dance of the Infidels (from the Amazing
Bud Powell) So Sorry Please (from Jazz Giant) Glass Enclosure
(from the Amazing Bud Powell, vol 2) Lullaby of Birdland (from
Inner Fires) Sure Thing (from Inner Fires) Parisian Thoroughfare
(from the Genius of Bud Powell) Polka Dots and Moonbeams (from
the Amazing Bud Powell, vol 2) Hallelujah (from Hot House: The
Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings) Hot House (from Hot
House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings) Willow Grove
(from Piano Interpretations by Bud Powell) Nice Work If You Can
Get It (from Bud Powell Trio) Elegy (from Blues in the Closet)
Blues for Bessie (from Strictly Powell) Ornithology (from the
Amazing Bud Powell) Bud on Bach (from the Amazing Bud Powell, vol
3) Buster Rides Again (from the Amazing Bud Powell, vol 4) John’s
Abbey (from the Amazing Bud Powell, vol 4) Cleopatra’s Dream
(from The Scene Changes) Getting There (from The Scene Changes)
Buttercup (from Bud Powell’s Moods) Round Midnight (from Bud
Powell: Live at the Blue Note Café Paris 1961) How High the Moon
/ Ornithology (from Live in Lausanne 1962) Broadway (from Our Man
in Paris) I’ll Remember April (from Mingus at Antibes) I Can’t
Get Started (from Bud Powell in Paris) Blues for Bouffemont (from
Blues for Bouffemont) All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm (from Jazz
Giant) Hallucinations (from The Return of Bud Powell) If I Loved
You (from The Return of Bud Powell) Thelonius (from A Portrait of
Thelonius) Like Someone in Love (from Ups and Downs) Bouncing
with Bud (Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette, from After
the Fall) Dusk in Sandi (Chick Corea, from Remembering Bud
Powell) Wail (from the Amazing Bud Powell)


Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Martin Williams for BBC
Audio Wales & West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Bud Powell (1924-1966)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024m2z


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z