Bud Powell – pianist (b. September 27, 1924 – d. July 31, 1966)
was an American jazz pianist and one of the central figures in the development of bebop. His playing transformed the role of the piano in modern jazz, particularly through his adaptation of the melodic and rhythmic language of Charlie Parker to the keyboard. Powell's recordings of the late 1940s and early 1950s became important reference points for later generations of jazz pianists.
Powell was born September 27, 1924, in New York City, into a musical family. His father, William Powell, was a stride pianist, and music was therefore present in the household from an early age. Powell initially studied classical piano and later became increasingly interested in jazz. His early influences included Fats Waller, Art Tatum, James P. Johnson, and other pianists of the Harlem tradition. At the same time, he was exposed to the new harmonic and rhythmic ideas that were emerging in New York during the early 1940s.
As a teenager, Powell became part of the musical world around Minton's Playhouse, the Harlem club associated with the development of bebop. There he became a close friend of Thelonious Monk, who was several years older and became an important influence and supporter. Powell...
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