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Bud Powell Live in Lausanne 1962 STRETCH ARCHIVES SCD-9038-2

 

1. Anthropology
2. Billie’s Bounce
3. Lover Come Back to Me
4. ‘Round Midnight
5. How High the Moon/Ornithology
6. All God’s Children
7. Woody ‘n’ You
8. Confirmation
9. I Remember Clifford
10. Just One of Those Things
11. Evidence
12. Blues In the Closet

 

This music was lost to the world for 40 years and when you consider the enormous developments that have taken place in jazz music during that time, it is remarkable that these recordings originally made for a radio station in Lausanne in 1962 should be so awe inspiring. It is probable that the bass player and drummer were locals, there is no background of other recordings that they are featured on.

Bud Powell was one of the very strong influences on all modern jazz pianists. There is hardly a top man around who does not admit to that, it is a real pleasure therefore, to hear him playing so well on this selection of jazz standards. Chick Corea says in the sleeve notes, that the bass player and drummer really dig in and support him and who would want to argue with that.

What were the qualities of Bud Powell’s playing that made him such an important figure in jazz? Try these for a start, he understood completely the harmonics of everything he did, he never ran out of ideas, he had the technique to deliver, he had a wonderful melodic sense, and he would always swing like mad.

The digital transfer and re-mastering has been very expertly done and although the recording quality is not up today’s standard, the music is better than a lot of what we are getting today in the name of jazz piano.

This is essential listening for the real jazz fan and particularly for any aspiring pianists.

 

Don Mather

 

 

 
 
 
 

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