Bud Powell
Jazz Giant

THE REVIEW

Essential. The trio of Bud Powell, an enigmatic figure and a prophet of modern piano, included Ray Brown on double bass and Max Roach on drums.

Jazz Giant was recorded between 1949 and 1950, 13 tracks.

Powell possessed the pure voice of bebop, like Parker and Gillespie, but always walked on the edge of an abyss, evoking turbid raw inner landscapes in stark contrast to the saxophonist's vitality and the trumpeter's brazen joviality.
A protégé of Thelonious Monk, a man who indulged in alcohol and drugs, a victim of mental crises, but with great, innate talent. A virtuoso who, once dead (1966), left behind hundreds of disciples.

This record, precisely in trio, is a valid instrument for discovering the essence of jazz piano: dazzling imagination, dramatic intensity, original use of harmony (learned from his friend Monk), phrasing more inspired by arpeggio and scales than melody.

Certain standards like "All's God Chillun Got Rhythm" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" showcase his most engaging and, at the same time, sorrowful side. The fleeting notations of the left hand cause an unexpected emotional effect. "Tempus Fugit", which opens the album, along with "Celia" and "Strictly Confidential" are composed by him and can be considered masterpieces. There are also classic ballads like "April in Paris" and "Body And Soul", where Powell acts with great respect for tradition, but his personal touch is not lacking, making use of an embellished lyricism faithful to the melody.

A precious album and perfect for lovers of pure and radical bebop, which in this instance blossoms and blooms like a reality that writes pages of music history.