WICN Artist of the Month, September 2024: Bud Powell

Names like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Dizzy Gillespie often dominate jazz-world conversations about the trailblazers who revolutionized their respective instruments. Yet the equally transcendent talent of jazz pianist Bud Powell deserves to stand tall with these icons. Renowned for his innovative approach to piano playing, Powell’s music helped shape the bebop era, profoundly influencing the direction of modern jazz as he did. As AllMusic’s Scott Yanow eloquently noted, Powell’s keyboard technique moved away from the dominant left-hand approach of earlier stride pianists, focusing instead on the right hand to produce rapid, single-note lines that mirrored Bird’s approach to the sax. Although Powell developed his style independently, his work utterly transformed the piano’s role in jazz, paving the way for future generations of jazz piano greats such as McCoy Tyner and Bill Evans. Powell’s legacy is that of a giant, whose influence resonates deeply among jazz musicians and critics alike.

 

A Musical Prodigy Born in the Harlem Renaissance

Bud Powell’s journey began in the vibrant cultural landscape of the Harlem Renaissance, when he was born into a musical family in 1924. This was a time of immense creative output among Black Americans, with jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, blues icon Bessie Smith, and bandleader Cab Calloway all making their mark. By coming of age in this environment, Powell was immersed in the rich sounds and rhythms that would define his musical career.

Powell’s introduction to the piano came early, influenced by his father’s stride piano style and the music of Fats Waller, born a generation ahead of Powell. Powell’s talent was evident early on, and the first jazz composition he mastered was James P. Johnson’s Carolina Shout, a piece that would become a signature of his initial style. Powell’s early exposure to these musical influences was the cornerstone of his development as a mold-breaking jazz pianist.

Mentorship and the Birth of a New Sound

In the early ‘40s, Bud Powell found a mentor in Thelonious Monk, at the time the house pianist at the legendary Minton’s Playhouse, a hub for emerging jazz talent. Monk recognized Powell’s potential and began to mentor him, introducing him to the top cats in the jazz world at that time. Monk even composed a tribute piece, In Walked Powell, which was a testament to the young pianist’s fast-growing reputation.

During this era, Powell played in a number of dance bands across New York City, eventually catching the attention of trumpeter and bandleader Cootie Williams. Though they often clashed  over song choices, such as Powell’s insistence on performing Monk’s Round Midnight, his assertive presence and musical chops made him a name in jazz circles. Powell’s time with Williams marked the beginning of his shift toward the bebop style that would define his career, especially during his performances along New York’s 52nd Street, then a hotbed for bebop.

Challenges and Triumphs

Powell’s rising career was interrupted in 1945 when he was severely beaten and arrested by the New York City police during a racial incident, though the arrest cited “public drunkenness.” This disturbing incident left him with debilitating headaches and mental trauma for the remainder of his life and led to a series of hospitalizations and struggles with alcohol dependency, as he drank as a means of self-medication. Despite these horrific challenges, Powell made a triumphant return to the jazz scene in ‘46, recording with major figures like Frank Socolow, Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, J.J. Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Fats Navarro, and Kenny Clarke. His recordings during this period showcased his ability to maintain a fast-paced tempo and exceptional sight-reading skills, solidifying his reputation as one of the most talented pianists of his era.

In 1947, Powell formed his own band with bassist Curly Russell and drummer Max Roach, recording as the Bud Powell Trio for Roost Records. That same year, he began working with Charlie Parker, joining Parker’s quintet for recording sessions that included luminaries like Miles Davis, Tommy Potter, and Max Roach. These collaborations with Parker, a leading figure in the bebop movement, marked a significant era of Powell’s career, further enhancing his renown as a key figure in jazz.

 

Sadly, a bar fight in 1948 led to an 11-month stay in a mental hospital, derailing his career yet again. Upon his release, Powell soon launched a spectacularly productive period, primarily recording for Blue Note Records. His work during from 1949-51 included some of his most famous compositions, including Bouncing with Bud and Dance of the Infidels. Musicologist Guthrie Ramsey highlighted Powell’s contributions during these sessions, noting that Powell “proved himself the equal of any of the other beboppers in technique, versatility, and feeling.”

The Legacy of Bud Powell

In 1950, Powell recorded what would become his most celebrated album, Jazz Giant (Norgran), with his trio. The album featured standout tracks like Tempus Fugit, Celia, and a high-energy rendition of the jazz standard Cherokee and cemented Powell’s jazz-legend status.

Powell’s collaboration with Charlie Parker continued in 1950, resulting in the iconic One Night in Birdland album, which also featured trumpeter Fats Navarro. This album, along with the Summit Meeting in Birdland with Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, is considered a high-water mark in bebop history. Powell’s performances on tracks like Blue ‘n Boogie and Anthropology showcased his unparalleled skill and creativity.

In 1951, Powell recorded two compositions for Blue Note that would become jazz standards: Parisian Thoroughfare and Un Poco Loco. These pieces were later recognized by literary critic Harold Bloom as some of the greatest works of 20th-century American art, further stamping Powell’s eternal influence on the jazz canon.

The Final Years: A Troubled Genius Abroad and at Home

As the 1950s progressed, so did the tumult surrounding Bud Powell. Despite his immense talent and contributions to jazz, his mental health and substance abuse struggles began to overshadow his career. By the early ‘50s, Powell—still in his 30s–had become a tragic figure, struggling with the physical and psychological effects of his numerous hospitalizations, medications, and the overall toll of his lifestyle.

In 1956, Powell moved to Paris, where he found a new audience along with a degree of solace. The European jazz scene welcomed him warmly, offering refuge from the challenges he faced in the United States. In Paris, Powell was celebrated as a jazz legend, and his performances were met with enthusiasm and admiration. He continued to record and perform, often collaborating with fellow expat musicians like Kenny Clarke as well as European artists who revered his work. Though his health was a constant challenge, Powell’s years in Paris allowed him to produce several remarkable recordings, including the Bud Powell in Paris album.

https://youtu.be/KgLpL_k2ecY?si=fsGUigpzJ_oF_e6K

However, the change of scenery alone wasn’t enough to mitigate the struggles that had plagued him for so long. Powell’s health continued to decline, exacerbated by his ongoing dependence on alcohol and the harsh treatment he had endured in psychiatric institutions. By the early 1960s, Powell’s performances became increasingly erratic, and his once-brilliant technique started to falter, making it all but impossible for him to sustain the level of artistry that had initially defined his career.

In 1964, Powell returned to live in New York City. The jazz world he came back to was far different from the one he’d left; the bebop movement he helped pioneer had evolved, and new styles and trends were emerging. Yet Powell remained a revered figure even as his performances had become sporadic and often marked by visible signs of his declining health.

On July 31, 1966, Bud Powell died from tuberculosis, compounded by malnutrition and a host of other health complications, at just 41 years old. His death marked the end of a turbulent life filled with incredible tension between his seismic artistic achievements and the deep personal struggles that had plagued him almost from the beginning of his career. Powell’s legacy, however, was already well-established and his influence on jazz piano and the bebop genre was profound and far-reaching.

In the years following his death, Powell’s stature has become immense. He’s now celebrated as a true innovator of the genre, a pianist who redefined his instrument’s role in jazz and whose work continues to inspire musicians several generations after his passing. His recordings, particularly those from the late 1940s and early ‘50s, are considered essential listening for jazz enthusiasts, and as WICN features his music throughout September, we hope you discover his brilliance all over again.