Bud Powell was born in Harlem, NY on September 27, 1924. His family has a clear musical: his grandfather Zachary is one of the best guitarists in the United States, his father, pianist style "stride" is an admirer of James P. Johnson and Fats Waller and his older brother played the violin professionally and trumpet. It was his father who initially gave him his first lessons.
As he was able to play discs Fats Waller and Art Tatum to listen only once. In addition to these figures in jazz began studying classical European forms: Debussy, Chopin, Beethoven, Liszt and especially Mozart and Bach. Is this good cause at 7 years and is admired by other musicians veterans for their playing. At that time his friend played with Elmo Hope, another future jazz pianist, Bach preludes and fugues for four hands.
The Jazz Beginnings
When a teenager wakes up his love of jazz figures Earl Hines, Billy Kyle, Nat "King" Cole and Art Tatum fundamentally. At fifteen he left the school to pursue jazz professionally. His first major contract came with the trumpeter-singer Valaida Snow. It is at this time when participating in various jam sessions where will contact all new figures from the Be-Bop: Bird, Dizzy, Fats Navarro and all of them, Thelonious Monk. In 1944, encouraged by this he joined the Cootie Williams Orchestra and recorded his first solo on "Blue Garden Blues." Monk is a character that will lock an important friendship. Bud declared admirer of the work of Thelonious and this will correspond, in addition to his admiration, with one of his compositions, "In a Walked Bud" and also wrote especially for him as a classic "52nd Street Theme." In this orchestra remain between 1942 and 1944. This year is arrested for disorderly conduct.
problems begin
In following year, 1945, with only 21 years is beaten by a police officer in Philadelphia in the head, according to some sources, to defend himself Thelonious Monk. Are admitted to the Bellevue Hospital for evaluation. In the form of income in your occupation writes, "pianist and composer of nearly 1000 songs." The attending physician writes he has "delusions of grandeur" and wrapped in a straitjacket. For a year to recover in the hospital, suffering from very strong headaches, depression and erratic behavior. Cootie Williams himself said: "He was beaten so hard on his head ... His sickness started right here ...." During these stays spend a large part of his life and gradually diminish his talent and genius.
In 1946, new spin on the activity, reaching a period in which managed to become the most admired pianist of his generation. Once again the jam sessions, including the Minton's Playhouse, which lets you play as a sideman on several recordings by Dexter Gordon, JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Kenny Clarke or Sarah Vaughan.
's solo career
On January 10, 1947 debut as a leader for the Roost label. In May, the only meeting place in a studio with Charlie Parker, recorded for the Savoy label. But not everything could go so well: it is in this year when he returns to be entered for 11 months and for the first time received electroshock treatment.
From August 8, 1949 under the supervision of Alfred Lion and Francis Wolff makes a good example of his mastery of recordings for Blue Note. According to Jackie McLean: "There was great friendship between them and always treated him with great respect." However, at this time and moved from high stages of pure creativity to other crisis.
In 1951 he was arrested again for possession of narcotics and entered the State Hospital Pilgrin for another 11 months where he received electroshock treatment again. At this time only allowed to play the piano once a week under the supervision of an assistant. The result this is a serious memory loss. When visited by Monk, vaguely remembers that she was with him the night of the arrest. When given the details said, "This electroshock treatment makes me forget everything."
then is transferred to Creedmore sanatorium, where he remained until 1953. The deterioration in your ability will gradually affect their music. Playing old standards that clearly shows your joints also suffer with these placements.
Discharged in February 1953, he formed a trio with the bassist George Duvivier and drummer Art Taylor. The owner of the famous "Birdland", Oscar Goodstein will lead to incredible limits their rights to legal guardian and submits it to a new enclosure in an apartment on the East Side to ensure their presence in the local evening sessions of that. Also discussed was that facilitated the marriage of Audrey Hill Bud to ensure a more effective surveillance.
On May 15, 1953 recorded the historic concert at Massey Hall in Toronto with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. In this peak are different recordings, until in 1956 his younger brother Richie died in the same car accident in which perishes Clifford Brown. This will motivate you to travel to Europe enrolled on a tour of the "Birdland All Star" with the likes of Lester Young, Miles Davis or the Modern Jazz Quartet.
European
stay back in 1959 the old continent but this time for five years. Settled in France where it will be received as a big star. There he founded the trio "Three Bosses" with Kenny Clarke (another famous American jazzmen self-exile) and Pierre Michelot, becoming the main attraction at the Blue Note club in Paris. In addition to this act all over Europe and made several recordings. Thanks to his friends spend a period of relative stability. Either way, Powell also had other health problems. As his health was deteriorating developed tuberculosis in both lungs. Besides his friend Francis Paudras discover that it was taking a small pink pills every day. These turn out to be a powerful tranquilizer Largactil (Thorazine), known as lobotomy or chemical straitjacket. " Mixed with alcohol caused a dangerous over-sedation and can also cause agitation and disknesia, characterized by involuntary movements of the tongue and face.
Homecoming and end
But despite this relative stability in 1965, reminiscent of New York, unable to stop drinking and pills and suffering from tuberculosis and returned to New York. The end of his life passes in his apartment in Brooklyn with his daughter Celia and her childhood friend Mary Frances Barnes. Continue its actions in a scene that was once the master.
died on July 31, 1966 by a combination of tuberculosis and malnutrition. 5000 people accompanying him on his funeral in the streets of Harlem. Barry Harris and Lee Morgan played in his honor. Your
along with Lester Young served as the basis for the character Dexter Gordon played the Bertrand Tavernier's film, "Round Midnight" (Round Midnight, 1986). This film depicts the relationship between Powell and his friend and protector Francis Paudras.
disease and medical
Pianist Fredic A. Harris tried to study the disease from Bud Powell to his musical performances. As a key outcome of the study highlight that the problems were of a physiological rather than neurological, which seems to support the hypothesis that their problems are worse after being brutally beaten on the head. This is also the reason for the futility of all treatments suffered throughout his life.
His acquaintances portray him as being withdrawn and quiet though he could be attacked by unprecedented violence. Alfred Lion recounted the story that for a recording session invited him to his apartment to ensure their presence in the morning at these meetings. At breakfast his little cat jumped on the table. Bud took a large knife and had it not been for his arrest would have ended with the cat. Finally, after managed to get it out of view explain that it was a simple cat. As to his way of being Johnny Griffin called him "Buddha" because of his face expressionless. In conclusion it is surprising that a person with such problems to achieve such level of both composition and execution.
Bill Evans said: "If I had to choose a single musician to his artistic integrity, originality unmatched for their creativity, but also for the greatness of his work, it would be Bud Powell. No one comes close to it. "
Magnificent version of "Anthropology" recorded in Copenhagen in 1962. Accompanying Bud Powell, Jorn Elniff on drums and the great bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen that this session it is very young and then for several years to go with Oscar Peterson.
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