Any biography that has the opportunity to start with Herbie Hancock describing you as “the foundation out of which stemmed the whole edifice of modern jazz piano” is a pretty damn good one. Bud Powell was an iconic jazz songwriter whose life as a black artist in New York City during the 40’s led to numerous physical altercations with the law that played a role in cutting his life short at the age of 41– he was beaten so bad by police in his early 20’s that he was hospitalized for months, and underwent electroshock therapy that played a massive role in the deterioration of his mental health and contributed to his alcoholism.
But when Powell was on he was on, and during the entirety of Inner Fires he was most certainly on, with the live album recorded at Club Kavakos in Washington DC showcasing the brilliance he possessed in spades. Flanked by the incomparable Charles Mingus on bass and the esteemed Roy Haynes on drums, Powell rips through each song like it would be his last, tearing down each song with his trademark heavy right hand.
Standout Songs: “Somebody Loves Me”, “Salt Peantuts”, “Little Willie Leaps”
