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Bud Powell

After A Painful Year, Bud Powell's Triumpant 1953 Return

Bud Powell pioneered bebop-style improvisation on the piano. Metronome/Getty Images hide caption

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Metronome/Getty Images

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After A Painful Year, Bud Powell's Triumpant 1953 Return

Fresh Air

On Feb. 5, 1953, Powell was uncommunicative face to face at the New York jazz club Birdland. But when he sat at the keys, it was a whole other story.

After A Painful Year, Bud Powell's Triumpant 1953 Return

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Blue Note Records Celebrates 70 Years Of Jazz

Pianist Horace Silver recorded a number of classic albums for Blue Note, including Song for My Father and The Jody Grind. Francis Wolff/Mosaic Images hide caption

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Francis Wolff/Mosaic Images

Take Five: By Artist Recommendation

Blue Note Records Celebrates 70 Years Of Jazz

From before bebop to the present day, some of the best jazz albums of all time have been issued by Blue Note Records. The label celebrates its 70th anniversary this week, and to honor the occasion, pianist Bill Charlap has chosen five of his all-time favorite Blue Note songs.

Blue Note Records Celebrates 70 Years Of Jazz

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Bud Powell: Bebop Pianism

Bud Powell was the first, and arguably the greatest pianist to create a bebop-based improvisational style for the piano. Metronome/Getty Images hide caption

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NPR's 'Jazz Profiles'

Bud Powell: Bebop Pianism

Admired by his peers as an adventurous original who forged a style of unrivaled virtuosity, Powell is still remembered for redrawing the course of modern jazz piano by pioneering bebop improvisation at the keyboard.

Bud Powell: Bebop Pianism

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Basic Jazz Record Library

Charlie Parker: 'Jazz at Massey Hall'

The 1953 album Jazz at Massey Hall contains the only jazz composition sung by a United States president while in office. The song is "Salt Peanuts," performed by Jimmy Carter at the White House Jazz Festival. Jazz at Massey Hall also documents one of the rare moments when Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Max Roach, and The Quintet recorded together.

Charlie Parker: 'Jazz at Massey Hall'

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Basic Jazz Record Library

Bud Powell: 'The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2'

Bud Powell was one of the great jazz innovators. He transferred many of Charlie Parker's pieces to the piano by playing speedy single-note lines with his right hand. Powell's innovative technique is displayed on these albums, which feature Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, and Fats Navarro.

Bud Powell: 'The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2'

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