The Genius of Bud Powell on Verve (Vol. 2)

01 - Someone To Watch Over Me
02 - Tenderly
03 - Thou Swell
04 - I Get a Kick Out of You
05 - Mediocre
06 - Dance of the Infidels
07 - Epistrophy
08 - A Foggy Day
09 - Spring Is Here
10 - Buttercup
11 - Moonlight In Vermont
12 - Time Was
13 - It Never Entered My Mind
14 - That Old Black Magic
15 - 'Round Midnight



01 - Bean 'n the Boys
02 - East of the Sun
03 - Lady Bird
04 - Confirmation
05 - Star Eyes
06 - Lullaby In Rhythm
07 - Blues In the Closet
08 - My Heart Stood Still
09 - I Know That You Know
10 - I Didn't Know What Time It Was
11 - Woodyn' You
12 - I Should Care
13 - Now's the Time

Verve VE-2-2526
Rec.: 1954-55-56.

The second of two-LP sets released by Verve reissue series has many very interesting performances that are frequently both powerful and erratic. The great bop pianist is heard with four separate trios (matched up with bassists Lloyd Trotman, George Duvivier, Percy Heath and Ray Brown, and drummers Art Blakey, Art Taylor, Max Roach and Osie Johnson); the 28 selections include four alternate takes that had been previously unissued. All of the music has since been reissued on Verve's massive Bud Powell box. Neil Tesser's liner notes are quite honest and accurate in their assessment of this music's strengths and failings.
Review by Scott Yanow