Bud Powell's Moods
Encyclopedia
Bud Powell's Moods is a studio album by jazz pianist
Bud Powell
, released in 1956 by Norgran, featuring sessions that Powell recorded in 1954 and 1955.
The album was re-issued by Verve
, and released as a CD replica by Verve (Japan) in 2006 (POCJ-2740). The sessions (with alternate takes) are also available on CD on The Complete Bud Powell on Verve
(1994) box set.
at Fine Sound Studios in New York.
The two Powell compositions, "Buttercup" (named after Powell's childhood friend Altevia Edwards) and "Fantasy in Blue", are both up-tempo, in contrast to the generally mellow mood of the rest of the album.
, except where noted.
June 2, 1954, Fine Sound Studios, New York, side A tracks 1-4.
June 4, 1954, Fine Sound Studios, New York, side A tracks 5-6 and side B tracks 1-2.
January 12, 1955, Fine Sound Studios, New York, side B tracks 3-5.
Jazz piano
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 instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
Bud Powell
Bud Powell
Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk...
, released in 1956 by Norgran, featuring sessions that Powell recorded in 1954 and 1955.
The album was re-issued by Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, and released as a CD replica by Verve (Japan) in 2006 (POCJ-2740). The sessions (with alternate takes) are also available on CD on The Complete Bud Powell on Verve
The Complete Bud Powell on Verve
The Complete Bud Powell on Verve is a five-disc box set, released on September 27, 1994, containing all of jazz pianist Bud Powell's recordings as leader for Verve.-Disc one:#"Tempus Fugue-it" – 2:25#"Celia" – 2:57...
(1994) box set.
History
The sessions on this album mark the beginning of a two year period (from June 1954 to September 1956) when Powell recorded exclusively for Norman GranzNorman Granz
Norman Granz was an American jazz music impresario and producer.Granz was a fundamental figure in American jazz, especially from about 1947 to 1960...
at Fine Sound Studios in New York.
The two Powell compositions, "Buttercup" (named after Powell's childhood friend Altevia Edwards) and "Fantasy in Blue", are both up-tempo, in contrast to the generally mellow mood of the rest of the album.
Track listing 12" LP (MGN 1064, MGV 8154)
All songs were written by Bud PowellBud Powell
Earl Rudolph "Bud" Powell was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk...
, except where noted.
- "Moonlight in VermontMoonlight in Vermont (song)"Moonlight in Vermont" is a popular song about the U.S. state of Vermont, written by John Blackburn and Karl Suessdorf and published in 1943. The lyrics are unusual in that they do not rhyme...
" (Karl SuessdorfKarl SuessdorfKarl Suessdorf was an American composer, best known for his collaboration with lyricist John Blackburn in composing the jazz standard, "Moonlight in Vermont", which was first recorded in 1943 by Billy Butterfield's Orchestra featuring Margaret Whiting...
, John BlackburnJohn Blackburn (songwriter)John M. Blackburn was a lyricist, perhaps best remembered for writing the lyrics to "Moonlight in Vermont".He was raised in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio....
) – 3:35 - "Spring Is HereSpring Is Here"Spring is Here" is a 1938 popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical I Married an Angel , where it was introduced by Dennis King and Vivienne Segal.-Notable recordings:...
" (Richard RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
, Lorenz HartLorenz HartLorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
) – 3:27 - "Buttercup" – 2:59
- "Fantasy in Blue" – 3:04
- "It Never Entered My MindIt Never Entered My Mind"It Never Entered My Mind" is a show tune from the 1940 Rodgers and Hart musical Higher and Higher , where it was introduced by Shirley Ross.-Notable recordings:...
" (Rodgers, Hart) – 2:56 - "A Foggy DayA Foggy Day"A Foggy Day" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress...
" (George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Ira GershwinIra GershwinIra Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
) – 3:45
- "Time Was" (aka "Duerme" «Sleep») (Miguel Prado, Gabriel Luna, Bob RussellBob Russell (songwriter)Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell, was an American songwriter born in Passaic, New Jersey.In 1968, Russell along with songwriting partner Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category...
) – 4:17 - "My Funny ValentineMy Funny Valentine"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green...
" (Rodgers, Hart) – 2:53 - "I Get a Kick out of YouI Get a Kick Out of You"I Get a Kick Out of You" is a song by Cole Porter, originally featured in the Broadway musical Anything Goes and the movie of the same name....
" (Cole PorterCole PorterCole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
) – 4:26 - "You Go to My HeadYou Go to My Head"You Go to My Head" is a 1938 popular song composed by J. Fred Coots with lyrics by Haven Gillespie. The song is a unique conjunction of a sophisticated lyric and complex, lush harmonic structure by two songwriters who were not generally known for such elegance; nevertheless the song is highly...
" (J. Fred Coots, Haven GillespieHaven GillespieJames Lamont "Haven" Gillespie was an American Tin Pan Alley composer and lyricist. He was the writer of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" as well as "You Go to My Head", "Honey", "By the Sycamore Tree", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Breezin' Along With The Breeze", "Right or Wrong," "Beautiful Love",...
) – 4:11 - "The Best (Thing for You Would Be Me)The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)"The Best Thing for You " is a popular song. It was written by Irving Berlin and was published in 1950.It was featured in the 1950 Broadway musical play Call Me Madam, in which it was introduced by Ethel Merman in a scene with Paul Lukas....
" (Irving BerlinIrving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
) – 2:41
Performance
- Bud PowellBud PowellEarl Rudolph "Bud" Powell was an American Jazz pianist. Powell has been described as one of "the two most significant pianists of the style of modern jazz that came to be known as bop", the other being his friend and contemporary Thelonious Monk...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
June 2, 1954, Fine Sound Studios, New York, side A tracks 1-4.
- George DuvivierGeorge DuvivierGeorge Duvivier was an American jazz double-bass player.Duvivier was born in New York City and took up the cello and also the violin while in high school before settling on the bass. He also learned composition and scoring before going out on the road with Lucky Millinder and then with the Cab...
– bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Art TaylorArt TaylorArthur S. Taylor, Jr. was an American jazz drummer of the hard bop school.After playing in the bands of Howard McGhee, Coleman Hawkins, Buddy DeFranco, Bud Powell, and George Wallington from 1948 to 1957, he formed his own group, the Wailers...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
June 4, 1954, Fine Sound Studios, New York, side A tracks 5-6 and side B tracks 1-2.
- Percy HeathPercy HeathPercy Heath was an American jazz bassist, brother to tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath and drummer Albert Heath, with whom he formed the Heath Brothers in 1975...
– bass - Art Taylor – drums
January 12, 1955, Fine Sound Studios, New York, side B tracks 3-5.
- Lloyd TrotmanLloyd TrotmanLloyd Trotman , born in Boston, was a jazz bassist who backed numerous jazz, dixieland, doo-wop and R&B artists in the 50s and 60s. He provided the famous bass line on Ben E. King's "Stand by Me"....
– bass - Art BlakeyArt BlakeyArthur "Art" Blakey , known later as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, was an American Grammy Award-winning jazz drummer and bandleader. He was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community....
– drums
Production
- Norman GranzNorman GranzNorman Granz was an American jazz music impresario and producer.Granz was a fundamental figure in American jazz, especially from about 1947 to 1960...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - David Stone MartinDavid Stone MartinDavid Stone Martin , born David Livingstone Martin, was an influential American artist best known for his illustrations on jazz record albums....
– cover designGraphic designGraphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
Release history
The two June 1954 sessions were originally released on a 10" LP called The Artistry of Bud Powell on Norgran in 1954.The Artistry of Bud Powell 10" LP (MGN 23)
- "Moonlight in Vermont" (Suessdorf, Blackburn)
- "Spring Is Here" (Rodgers, Hart)
- "Buttercup"
- "Fantasy in Blue"
- "It Never Entered My Mind" (Rodgers, Hart)
- "A Foggy Day" (Gershwin, Gershwin)
- "Time Was" (Prado, Luna, Russell)
- "My Funny Valentine" (Rodgers, Hart)