Search - Bud Powell :: Essen Jazz Festival

The Best!

Tritone | United States | 06/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm the first? This is one of my favorite recordings. Bud Powell on piano, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. Recorded in 1960 (live) at the jazz festival in Essen.



Coleman Hawkins joins the trio for the 2nd half of the recording. Hawkins sounds a lot like Stan Getz (or is it the other way around).



The sound clips speak for themselves..."

Powell and more

S J Buck | Kent, UK | 10/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This concert is from 2nd April 1960 and features Bud Powell. Powell was a little past his best by 1960. He had mental health problems and could be erratic. However in this concert he is on sparkling form in places. You have to be good to play 'Shaw Nuff' at the tempo these guys are playing at. With Bud Powell is Oscar Pettiford on Bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. So you have a trio that has three of the greats on their respective instruments.



Only two parts of the Essen concert were recorded that day. Amongst others playing who were not recorded were Dave Brubeck and the Quincy Jones Orchestra. Fortunately for us the tapes were rolling when Coleman Hawkins joined the Trio for 'All the things you are', 'Just You Just Me', Yesterdays, and 'Stuffy'. Hawkins is in imperious form and combined with the one-off combination off musicians it makes this recording well worth getting.



The sound quality for a 47 year old live recording is pretty good, but don't expect modern studio quality. It seems to be deleted or expensive to get these days, so a lot will depend on how serious a Jazz collector you are."