''The Genius of Bud Powell'', originally titled ''Bud Powell's Moods'', is a studio album by

jazz pianist Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instru ...

Bud Powell Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell (September 27, 1924 – July 31, 1966) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Along with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke and Dizzy Gillespie, Powell was a leading figure in the development of modern ...

, released in 1956 by

Mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

/ Clef, featuring two sessions that Powell recorded in 1950 and 1951. The album was re-released on CD by

Verve Verve may refer to: Music * The Verve, an English rock band * ''The Verve E.P.'', a 1992 EP by The Verve * ''Verve'' (R. Stevie Moore album) * Verve Records, an American jazz record label Businesses * Verve Coffee Roasters, an American coffee ho ...

in 1992, with two additional takes of "Tea for Two". The sessions also appear on ''

The Complete Bud Powell on Verve ''The Complete Bud Powell on Verve'' is a five-disc box set, released on September 27, 1994 by Verve Records, containing all of jazz pianist Bud Powell's recordings as leader for producer Norman Granz. Track listing ''All songs were written by Bu ...

'' (1994) box set.

History

The two sessions mark Powell's fourth recording date as leader, following on from the February 1950 session for ''

Jazz Giant ''Jazz Giant'' is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, released on Norgran in 1950, featuring two sessions that Powell recorded for Norman Granz in 1949 and 1950. The album was remastered and re-released on CD in 2001 by Verve as a Verv ...

''. The three takes of "Tea for Two" at the start of the CD release recall the 1955 LP release of ''

The Amazing Bud Powell ''The Amazing Bud Powell'', also called ''The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1'', is an album by Jazz piano, jazz pianist Bud Powell, first released on Blue Note Records, Blue Note in April 1952, as a 10" vinyl. It is part of a loosely connected series ...

'', which opens with three takes of "

Un Poco Loco "Un Poco Loco" is an Afro-Cuban jazz standard composed by American jazz pianist Bud Powell. It was first recorded for Blue Note Records by Powell, Curly Russell, and Max Roach on May 1, 1951. Musical characteristics "Un Poco Loco" is in thir ...

". Powell's composition "Parisian Thoroughfare", a "classic bop vehicle", has been recorded by several other artists, most notably the

Clifford Brown Clifford Benjamin Brown (October 30, 1930 – June 26, 1956) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer. He died at the age of 25 in a car accident, leaving behind four years' worth of recordings. His compositions "Sandu", "Joy Spring", an ...

and Max Roach quintet in 1954 ('' Clifford Brown & Max Roach''), featuring Bud's brother Richie Powell on piano.

Track listing

''All songs were written by

, except where noted.'' #" Tea for Two" ake 5( Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) – 3:28 (not on original LP) #"Tea for Two"

ake 6 Ake (or Aké in Spanish orthography) is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It's located in the municipality of Tixkokob, in the Mexican state of Yucatán; 40 km (25 mi) east of Mérida, Yucatán. The name ...

(Youmans, Caesar) – 4:13 #"Tea for Two"

ake 10 Ake (or Aké in Spanish orthography) is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It's located in the municipality of Tixkokob, in the Mexican state of Yucatán; 40 km (25 mi) east of Mérida, Yucatán. The name ...

(Youmans, Caesar) – 3:47 (not on original LP) #"Hallelujah!" (Youmans, Leo Robin,

Clifford Grey Clifford Grey (5 January 1887 – 25 September 1941) was an English songwriter, librettist, actor and screenwriter. His birth name was Percival Davis, and he was also known as Clifford Gray. Grey contributed prolifically to West End and Br ...

) – 2:59 #"Parisian Thoroughfare" (a.k.a. "Parisienne Thorofare") – 2:28 #"Oblivion" – 2:28 #"Dusk in Sandi" (a.k.a. "Dusky 'n' Sandy") – 2:13 #"Hallucinations" (a.k.a. "Budo") – 2:25 #"The Fruit" – 3:17 #" A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" ( Manning Sherwin,

Jack Strachey Jack Strachey (25 September 1894 – 27 May 1972) was an English composer and songwriter Born John Francis Strachey in London on 25 September 1894, he began writing songs in the 1920s for the theatre and the music hall, scoring his first success ...

Eric Maschwitz Albert Eric Maschwitz OBE (10 June 1901 – 27 October 1969), sometimes credited as Holt Marvell, was an English entertainer, writer, editor, broadcaster and broadcasting executive. Life and work Born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England, and desc ...

) – 3:41 #" Just One of Those Things" (

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

) – 3:50 #" The Last Time I Saw Paris" ( Jerome Kern,

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

) – 3:18

Personnel

''July 1, 1950, New York, tracks 1–4.'' *

– piano * Ray Brown –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

* Buddy Rich –

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

''February 1951, New York, tracks 5–12.'' *Bud Powell – piano (solo)

Release history

The album was originally released as the 12" LP ''Bud Powell's Moods'' (Mercury / Clef MGC 610), and later re-released and re-titled ''The Genius of Bud Powell'' (Clef MGC 739, Verve MGV 8115). Confusingly, another album containing different sessions (from 1954 and 1955) was subsequently released as '' Bud Powell's Moods'' ( Norgran MGN 1064). Confusingly again, in the late 1970s Verve released a double LP also called ''The Genius of Bud Powell'', coupling the single-disc ''Genius'' with ''

'', and also a follow-up double LP called ''The Genius of Bud Powell, Volume 2'', containing sessions from 1954 to 1956. On the CD release, the additional version of "Tea for Two" marked "take 5" (a.k.a. "compilation take") had previously been released in the 50s on a V.A. compilation called ''Piano Interpretations''. The version marked "take 10" (a.k.a. "78 take") had appeared on 78/45 rpm singles and on the 10" LP '' Piano Solos #2''.

''Bud Powell's Moods'' 12" LP (MGC 610)

#"Parisienne Thorofare" – 2:28 #"Oblivion" – 2:28 #"Dusk in Sandi" – 2:13 #"Hallucinations" – 2:25 #"The Fruit" – 3:17 #"Tea for Two"

(Youmans, Caesar) – 4:13 #"Hallelujah!" (Youmans, Robin, Grey) – 2:59 #"The Last Time I Saw Paris" (Kern, Hammerstein II) – 3:18 #"Just One of Those Things" (Porter) – 3:50 #"A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" (Sherwin, Strachey, Maschwitz) – 3:41

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Genius of Bud Powell, The Bud Powell albums 1956 albums Albums produced by Norman Granz Mercury Records albums Clef Records albums