What Is Jazz?
Lets go back to some early jazz roots. Listen to the commentary by Mary Lou Williams. It can be useful. We will also do a brief biography of Bud Powell. He is a great american innovator as is Mary Lou Williams.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Bud Powell The Innovator
This is a work in progress so for now we recommend you consult Bud Powell.
Here are some picks on what to listen to in Bud Powell recordings. These recording are key to understanding the meaning of Bop. No other jazz pianist besides Theolonius Monk was so innovative.
- The Complete Blue Note And Roost Recordings Of Bud Powell, Blue Note, 1947-1963. If you can’t afford the whole four-CD set, get The Amazing Bud Powell, Blue Note, one of the greatest jazz piano recording ever made.
- The Genius of Bud Powell, Verve, 1949-1956. Again if you can’t afford the whole five-CD set, buy the genius if Bud Powell, Volumes I & II, Verve, one of the greatest jazz recording ever made.
- Birdland ’53, Fresh Sound, 1953, with Charlie Mingus and Roy Haynes. Originally released as InnerFires.
These are all taken from “The Jazz Theory Book” by Mark Levine. It is also a great resource for jazz musicians. It includes a lot of bebop.
Let me take a moment to explain something. We at Beyer Music have been in the business of selling acoustic and electric pianos for 30 years now. We are not a chain. We only operate out of one little store in Western Connecticut. I say this because we have established our claim to fame on “music education” of all types. That’s it!. Jazz-bebop, stride, swing, boogie, and more have all been a part of our organization. Over the years we have been lucky to come in contact with some of the best. And all musicians relate back to the greats such as Bud and Theolonius.
