One of jazz history's greatest pianists, Bud Powell suffered from mental illness and heavy medication that often interfered with his playing. When he recorded this session in 1957, at age 33, his most incandescent inventio... more »ns were already behind him, but what remained was a pianist of extraordinary depth, capable of the deepest blues and a rhythmic incisiveness like Thelonious Monk's. And he was still a composer of first-rate bop lines, like "John's Abbey" and "Time Waits," the latter a reference to his once blazing "Tempus Fugue-it." The rhythm section of bassist Sam Jones and drummer Philly Joe Jones is absolutely masterful at the slow and medium tempos that Powell had come to favor, with Jones often prodding the pianist into exuberance. This is the finest of Powell's later recordings, revealing a bop pianist who paled only in comparison with his former self. --Stuart Broomer« less
All Artists:Bud Powell Title:Time Waits Members Wishing: 2 Total Copies: 0 Label:Blue Note Records Release Date: 9/14/1999 Album Type: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered Genres:Jazz, Pop Style:Bebop Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC:724352122721
Synopsis
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One of jazz history's greatest pianists, Bud Powell suffered from mental illness and heavy medication that often interfered with his playing. When he recorded this session in 1957, at age 33, his most incandescent inventions were already behind him, but what remained was a pianist of extraordinary depth, capable of the deepest blues and a rhythmic incisiveness like Thelonious Monk's. And he was still a composer of first-rate bop lines, like "John's Abbey" and "Time Waits," the latter a reference to his once blazing "Tempus Fugue-it." The rhythm section of bassist Sam Jones and drummer Philly Joe Jones is absolutely masterful at the slow and medium tempos that Powell had come to favor, with Jones often prodding the pianist into exuberance. This is the finest of Powell's later recordings, revealing a bop pianist who paled only in comparison with his former self. --Stuart Broomer
"Nothing here has the fluidity and dexterity of Powell's earlier recordings, but the intensity is high nonetheless, and the sound quality is flawless, giving it something the earlier recordings don't have.Buster Rides Again, the album's opener, is one of the greatest cuts I have ever heard. The mid-tempo afro-latin groove pushes Powell to playing explosive rhythmic tone clusters, and the energy between Philly Joe Jones and Powell is uncanny. The problem is, after an inventive opener like this, the up-tempo bop pieces are bound to be a bit of a let-down. In any case, worth checking out. Excellent piano trio work."
In Walked Bud
Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 09/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Time Waits" is a classic jazz trio album by one of the great jazz pianists of all time. While Bud Powell's best recordings for Blue Note are from the late 40s and early 50s, captured on the two volumes of "The Amazing Bud Powell," this is one of three sessions he made for the label in 1957-58. (The other two are "Bud!" and "The Scene Changes," and while the former is currently unavailable as single issue, it is available as part of "Bud Powell - The Complete Blue Note and Roost Recordings.") The hallmark of Bud's second stint at Blue Note for me is the wonderful sound of these recordings. It might just be the difference between the mono recordings of five and ten years earlier, and the distinct stereo sound of the late 50s, but it makes the music come to life. You can even pick out Bud's trademark moans during his solos (which sometimes get a little old, but they are endearing nonetheless). Anyone interested in great bop piano trio music shouldn't wait to get "Time Waits.""
Alot of Fun
Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 01/07/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"In 1958 at the Van Gelder Studio, Bud Powell (piano), Sam Jones (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums) came together for this, one of Bud's fun later dates.
Handing out the stars for a disc is sometimes a tough call. I really enjoy this disc and have listened to it countless times but I know that sometimes people see 3 stars and think it must stink... or that the reviewer is out of their mind. Neither is true. =)
I give this disc 3 stars in relation to the other 2 discs I just reviewed at 5 and 4 stars, as well as to Bud's earlier and best works. As much as I like this disc (and I do or else I wouldn't have listened to it so many times), it's not up there right alongside Hank Mobley - Soul Station (5), and Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard (4).
The same thing I love about this disc is also one of the reasons I give it 3 stars. By this time in his life Bud was not completely the awe-inspiring pianist he used to be. That doesn't mean he is bad here, it just means I am trying to place this album within the context of all his work. I find his performance here to be quite charming, but I feel that for some people he may have slipped a little too much by now... I'm not sure. There are a couple relative stumbles and sometimes he kinda seems like he played himself into a corner and needs a second to think of a way out, but he is still Bud. He still has that passion and spirit to his playing. As "technical" a thing as music can be, you better have more than just an outrageous degree of "technique" or else you're just a stiff-sounding musical robot with no heart in your playing. Even at Bud's blazing-piano best, he was NEVER that guy! Never the "Hey look at me I have fast fingers!!!" wanker.
That is what Bud still possesses here. That bounce. Plus I really like that he does in fact often play slower here... it almost gives the feeling of his melodies having more room to breathe, and he still had some very cool rhythmic ideas here.
Plus it's a great think that Philly Joe got to play with him here. Being sensitive to Bud's playing, Philly isn't as explosive as you may be used to him being, but he's still right there.
All in all a very enjoyable disc, though not one of the truly epic ones for which the Legend of Bud Powell was formed. For one of those, try The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1.
"
Best jazz pianist ever !
J. D. Mc Keown | 12/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As with all of his albums the guy was totally amazing. I find it annoying reading a lot of reviews about this guy's playing that his albums, after say a certain date( none of the reviewers seem to know what this date is ! ) are inferior to albums recorded previously.
All of his recordings are great. I am not a pianist but I do have ears and I do not listen for any non-existent decline in his playing abilities, he is by far the greatest jazz pianist ever, his playing is sublime.
It is like someone wrote a review on one of his album covers at some time and everyone trots out the same old nonsense. There was no decline whatsoever !. Superb.