As Bill Evans said, "His insight and talent were unmatched in hard-core, true jazz". Bud Powell has also been described as being the most brilliant of bebop pianists, the only modern jazz musician who equaled the supersonic speed and creativity of Charlie Parker. Bud Powell's early years are documented on the 86 tracks in this 4 CD box set, the years during which he amazed fellow musicians as well as jazz fans, with dazzling bebop piano playing that laid the foundation of modern jazz piano.
The full Bud Powell story is told within the pages of the 48 page booklet that also includes rare pictures and discography.
Tempus Fugue-It collects early Bud Powell 78s and shows just how important he was to the music's development. A native New Yorker, Powell started recording at the age of 19 with Cootie Williams's small group in January 1944. This collection follows him through his early sideman discs, first with Williams and then with young beboppers like JJ Johnson, Dexter Gordon and The BeBop Boys (a group including Sonny Stitt and Fats Navarro). Impressive and fluent though his work with these groups is, the revelations begin with his January 1947 recording debut as a leader of his own trio. This session occurs towards the end of disc two, with the final two sides kicking off disc three.
Powell's intensity, fluency and freshness of ideas are all overpowering, initiating the handful of years he enjoyed when his ideas and his ability to articulate them were at their peak. Discs three and four contain Powell's monumental first trio sessions for Norman Granz and his debut (with Navarro and Sonny Rollins) for Blue Note. They also cover the Prestige sides cut by a co-led quartet with Sonny Stitt and end with his famous July 1950 "Tea for Two" recording with Buddy Rich.
This is a fascinating, revelatory, deeply moving, and completely captivating collection of Bud Powell material that hasn't readily seen the light of day before, despite the fact that almost all of it has been commercially released at one time or another. The material over these four discs ranges from pre-bebop years, with Cootie Williams from 1944 and Frank Socolow's quintet from 1945, to a broadcast with the Charlie Parker Quintet (featuring Fats Navarro, Art Blakey, and Curley Russell) in 1950 and the band Powell shared shortly with Sonny Stitt during the same year. Proper did an impeccable job of organization -- if not remastering, but the result is adequate if not stellar -- by placing the music in tightly organized compartments not only chronologically, but also thematically. For instance, in the pre-bop era song portrayed on disc one, entitled "Blue Garden Blues," Powell's style with his large chords and limited arpeggios is showcased against the swinging bands he was playing with. But if one listens closely enough, such as on "Gotta Do Some War Work," it's easy to hear the influence of Fats Waller and Art Tatum on Powell's construction of solos and fills, as well as his architectural work in building harmonic bridges between all the other instruments in the band. His trademark trills are already carved in stone, however, and they slip out whenever they are allowed to. On disc two "Bud's Bubble," when Powell played with J.J. Johnson and the Bebop Boys beginning in 1946, when bop was first making its own noise on 52nd Street, the artist offers more than a support for either Johnson or Stitt in the latter band, and he fires up the rhythm section with an absolutely frightening intensity -- take a listen to either "Coppin' the Bop," with Johnson, or "Fat Boy," with Navarro and Kenny Dorham having to tear each other up in order to keep up with Powell, Al Hall, and Kenny Clarke. But it's not until the first trio sides emerge in early 1947, with Max Roach and Curley Russell, that Powell's harmonic genius gets heard in full. His inside-out version of "I'll Remember April" is a case in point, but the completely striated tonalities and legato right-handed runs in "Off Minor" is nothing less than astonishing. Most of disc three, I'll Keep Loving You, is taken up by trio material with Russell being replaced by Ray Brown. On the Roost and Clef material, Powell is advancing a new kind of bop solo, one that considers the elementary rhythms and then takes them apart at the same time the harmonics are being reinvented. It works well in his own session, but leads to some tension in the session with the Charlie Parker All-Stars on Savoy from May of 1947 with Miles Davis, Tommy Potter, and Roach. Roach was all about Powell's unique ideas, but they required a different melodic framework than merely using 12-bar blues and quick changes to be put across. it's not until Powell put together the Modernists with Navarro, Sonny Rollins, Potter, and drummer Roy Haynes for Blue Note that this all comes together in an enlightening mass of pedal points, interactive counterpoint soloing, and a shift from the ostinato notions of the blues changes to the more eloquent and fiery glissandi combinations that came later -- check out "Dance of the Infidels" with this band or "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" from the Prestige sessions with Sonny Stitt in 1949. Finally, the last disc, So Sorry Please, with the aforementioned bands and his final two Clef sides in July of 1950 with Brown and Buddy Rich, showcase Powell as a man split between his visions and his passions. His playing is not even human it's so finessed and technically brilliant, but his place in both the Stitt/Powell band and with Parker, and to some extent with that Clef trio, is somehow as the outsider; his driving, steaming fire is still there, but it's distracted by other nuanced voiced.
This listing is for a rare, out of print box set of 4-CDs - a USED / OPENED in Near MINT minus overall condition set, PRESSED and ISSUED by PROPER RECORDS of a highly collectible title from their catalog, featuring -
Bud Powell
4-CD Boxed Title -
Tempus Fugue-It
Performers on this disc include -
Alto Saxophone – Cecil Payne (tracks: 2-1 to 2-5), Charlie Parker (tracks: 3-3 to 3-6, 4-11 to 4-15), Frank Powell (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Leroy Harris (tracks: 1-19 to 1-22)
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Stitt (tracks: 2-6 to 2-17, 3-19 to 3-24, 4-1 to 4-3)
Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11)
Baritone Saxophone – Eddie de Verteuil (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Leo Parker (tracks: 1-19 to 1-22)
Bass – Al Hall (tracks: 2-6 to 2-17), Carl Pruitt (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Curley Russell* (tracks: 1-15 to 1-18, 2-18 to 2-23, 3-1, 3-2, 3-19 to 3-24, 4-1 to 4-7, 4-9 to 4-15), Leonard Gaskin (tracks: 1-12 to 1-14, 2-1 to 2-5), Norman Keenan (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8, 1-10), Ray Brown (tracks: 3-7 to 3-9, 3-11, 3-12, 4-16, 4-17), Ted Sturgis (tracks: 1-19 to 1-22), Tommy Potter (tracks: 3-3 to 3-6, 3-13 to 3-18)
Drums – Art Blakey (tracks: 4-4 to 4-7, 4-9 to 4-15), Buddy Rich (tracks: 4-16, 4-17), Irv Kluger (tracks: 1-12 to 1-14), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 1-19 to 1-22, 2-10 to 2-17), Max Roach (tracks: 1-15 to 1-18, 2-1 to 2-5, 2-18 to 2-23, 3-1 to 3-9, 3-11, 3-12, 3-19 to 3-24, 4-1 to 4-7, 4-9, 4-10), Roy Haynes (tracks: 3-13 to 3-18), Sylvester "Vess" Payne (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11), Wallace Bishop (tracks: 2-6 to 2-9)
Guitar – Leroy Kirkland (tracks: 1-9, 1-11)
Piano – Bud Powell
Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon (tracks: 1-15 to 1-18), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tracks: 1-10), Frank Socolow (tracks: 1-12 to 1-14), Lee Pope (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Sam "The Man" Taylor* (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Sonny Rollins (tracks: 3-13 to 3-16)
Trombone – Bob Horton (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Ed Burke (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Ed Glover (tracks: 1-9), J.J. Johnson (tracks: 2-1 to 2-5)
Trumpet – Ermet Perry (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Fats Navarro (tracks: 3-13 to 3-16, 4-11 to 4-15), Freddie Webster (tracks: 1-12 to 1-14, 1-19 to 1-22), George Treadwell (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Kenny Dorham (tracks: 2-6 to 2-17), Lammar Wright (tracks: 1-9, 1-11), Leonard Hawkins (tracks: 1-15 to 1-18), Miles Davis (tracks: 3-3 to 3-6), Tommy Stevenson (tracks: 1-9, 1-11)
Trumpet, Vocals – Cootie Williams (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11)
Vocals – Sarah Vaughan (tracks: 1-19 to 1-22)
Track Listing -
1-1 –Cootie Williams Sextet
You Talk A Little Trash 2:59
1-2 –Cootie Williams Sextet
Floogie Boo 2:36
1-3 –Cootie Williams Sextet
I Don't Know 3:09
1-4 –Cootie Williams Sextet
Gotta Do Some War Work 3:01
1-5 –Cootie Williams Sextet
My Old Flame 3:12
1-6 –Cootie Williams Sextet
Sweet Lorraine 3:07
1-7 –Cootie Williams Sextet
Echoes Of Harlem 3:04
1-8 –Cootie Williams Sextet
Honeysuckle Rose 3:08
1-9 –Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
Roll'Em 2:52
1-10 –Cootie Williams Sextet
Smack Me 3:04
1-11 –Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
Blue Garden Blues 3:14
1-12 –Frank Socolow's Duke Quintet
The Man I Love 3:17
1-13 –Frank Socolow's Duke Quintet
Reverse The Charges 2:52
1-14 –Frank Socolow's Duke Quintet
September In The Rain 2:47
1-15 –Dexter Gordon Quintet
Long Tall Dexter 3:02
1-16 –Dexter Gordon Quintet
Dexter Rides Again 3:14
1-17 –Dexter Gordon Quintet
I Can't Escape From You 3:15
1-18 –Dexter Gordon Quintet
Dexter Digs In 2:57
1-19 –Sarah Vaughan
If You Could See Me Now 3:02
1-20 –Sarah Vaughan
I Can Make You Love Me If You Let Me 3:00
1-21 –Sarah Vaughan
You're Not The Kind 2:58
1-22 –Sarah Vaughan
My Kinda Love 2:35
2-1 –Jay Jay Johnson's Be-Boppers
Jay Bird 2:56
2-2 –Jay Jay Johnson's Be-Boppers
Jay Bird (Alternate Take) 2:58
2-3 –Jay Jay Johnson's Be-Boppers
Coppin' The Bop 2:58
2-4 –Jay Jay Johnson's Be-Boppers
Jay Jay 3:04
2-5 –Jay Jay Johnson's Be-Boppers
Mad Bebop 2:40
2-6 –The Bebop Boys
Bebop In Pastel 2:55
2-7 –The Bebop Boys
Fool's Fancy 2:32
2-8 –The Bebop Boys
Bombay 2:52
2-9 –The Bebop Boys
Ray's Idea 2:43
2-10 –The Bebop Boys
Serenade To A Square 2:32
2-11 –The Bebop Boys
Good Kick 2:35
2-12 –The Bebop Boys
Seven Up 2:27
2-13 –The Bebop Boys
Blues In Bebop 2:42
2-14 –The Bebop Boys
Boppin' A Riff 5:32
2-15 –The Bebop Boys
Fat Boy 5:41
2-16 –The Bebop Boys
Everything's Cool 5:50
2-17 –The Bebop Boys
Webb City 5:36
2-18 –Bud Powell Trio
I'll Remember April 2:45
2-19 –Bud Powell Trio
Indiana 2:36
2-20 –Bud Powell Trio
Somebody Loves Me 2:46
2-21 –Bud Powell Trio
I Should Care 2:53
2-22 –Bud Powell Trio
Bud's Bubble 2:28
2-23 –Bud Powell Trio
Off Minor 2:15
3-1 –Bud Powell Trio
Nice Work If You Can Get It 2:11
3-2 –Bud Powell Trio
Everything Happens To Me 2:33
3-3 –Charlie Parker All Stars
Donna Lee 3:01
3-4 –Charlie Parker All Stars
Chasin' The Bird 2:55
3-5 –Charlie Parker All Stars
Cheryl 2:58
3-6 –Charlie Parker All Stars
Buzzy 2:59
3-7 –Bud Powell
Tempus Fugue-It 2:25
3-8 –Bud Powell
Celia 2:58
3-9 –Bud Powell
Cherokee 3:37
3-10 –Bud Powell
I'll Keep Loving You 2:40
3-11 –Bud Powell
Strictly Confidential 3:06
3-12 –Bud Powell
All God's Chillun Got Rhythm 2:59
3-13 –Bud Powell's Modernists
Bouncing With Bud 3:05
3-14 –Bud Powell's Modernists
Wail 2:41
3-15 –Bud Powell's Modernists
Dance Of The Infidels 2:49
3-16 –Bud Powell's Modernists
52nd Street Theme 2:49
3-17 –Bud Powell's Trio
You Go To My Head 3:14
3-18 –Bud Powell's Trio
Ornithology 2:21
3-19 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quarte
All God's Chillun Got Rhythm 2:59
3-20 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Sonny Side 2:21
3-21 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Bud's Blues 2:34
3-22 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Sunset 3:48
3-23 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Strike Up The Band 3:27
3-24 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
I Want To Be Happy 3:11
4-1 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Taking A Chance On Love 2:33
4-2 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Fine And Dandy 2:42
4-3 –Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell Quartet
Fine And Dandy (Alternate Take) 2:40
4-4 –Bud Powell Trio
So Sorry Please 3:13
4-5 –Bud Powell Trio
Get Happy 2:50
4-6 –Bud Powell Trio
Sometimes I'm Happy 3:35
4-7 –Bud Powell Trio
Sweet Georgia Brown 2:48
4-8 –Bud Powell
Yesterdays 2:48
4-9 –Bud Powell Trio
April In Paris 3:07
4-10 –Bud Powell Trio
Body And Soul 3:20
4-11 –Charlie Parker Quintet
'Round Midnight 5:09
4-12 –Charlie Parker Quintet
The Street Beat 9:35
4-13 –Charlie Parker Quintet
Out Of Nowhere 6:23
4-14 –Charlie Parker Quintet
Ornithology 7:45
4-15 –Charlie Parker Quintet
I'll Remember April 7:58
4-16 –Bud Powell
Hallelujah 2:58
4-17 –Bud Powell
Tea For Two
The 4-CD Set is from the rare PROPER RECORDS series of CDs.
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Catalog # PROPERBOX 22
CDs issued in 2001
CDs made in the UK / ENGLAND / GREAT BRITAIN
Comes complete with 48 page booklet, Proper Records Catalog and outer slip case box.
The CDs, Jewel Case and INSERTS are all in Near MINT minus
overall condition. The outer cardboard case shows some shelf wear (see our pictures for more detail). The set is complete. There may be a light mark or two on the reflective sides of some of the discs, nothing serious. When we play graded this item on our audio system, it performed PERFECTLY!
This CD is an
audiophile quality pressing (any collector of fine MFSL, half speeds,
direct to discs, Japanese/UK pressings etc., can attest to the
difference a quality pressing can make to an audio system).
Do not let this rarity slip by!