How To Play Like Bud Powell
In this lesson we will take a look at one of the leading figures in the development of bebop and modern jazz, Bud Powell. Together with Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell is one of the main influences on jazz pianists since the 1940s.
Bud Powell was born September 27, 1924 in Harlem, New York City and died July 31, 1966 in New York. He started playing piano at an early age, with Art Tatum, James P. Johnson and Fats Waller as early influences.
Thelonious Monk was Powell’s greatest mentor early in his career and he introduced Powell to the circle of musicians who performed and hung out at the legendary Minton’s playhouse. The pioneers of the new style of jazz know as bebop were Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke and Charlie Christian, just to name a few. Minton’s Playhouse played a crucial role in the development of jazz in the 40’s, hosting concerts and regular jam sessions.
Bud Powell recorded in many different settings, from solo piano, piano trio to quintet. As a sideman he worked with pretty much everyone, including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson and Sonny Stitt. Important recordings worth checking out are: The Amazing Bud Powell Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Bud Plays Bird, and Bud Plays Thelonious Monk.
For this lesson I have picked a transcription of the Bud Powell solo on a rhythm changes called Sonny Side, from a record called Sonny Stitt/Bud Powell/J. J. Johnson (also released as All God’s Children Got Rhythm). This is one of my favorite records in general, and one of the strongest examples of Bud Powell’s playing in my opinion.