Music Monday

There’s a good bit to celebrate this last week, from the founders of bop to pioneers of the avant-garde.

First, we’d be remiss not to recognize Bud Powell’s centennial. Powell’s discography feels as complicated as it is uneven with several box sets probably representing the best ways to understand his music.

I’ve always really enjoyed his iconic early Blue Note album, The Amazing Bud Powell (1951), where he plays with Fats Navarro, Sonny Rollins, Tommy Potter and Roy Haynes. 

That said, I’m also quite enjoy this 1961 live date at the Blue Note Cafe in Paris which ESP Disk’ released a decade or so ago. It’s a solid recording and very good evening for Powell. His version of “A Night in Tunisia” is particularly remarkable: 

It was also Sam Rivers’ 101st birthday this past week. For whatever reason, it appears that I never posted a link to his amazing Blue Note debut, Fuchsia Swing Song which is also 60 years old this year. It continues to sound as fresh and vibrant as it did when it was released in 1964:

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of Benny Golson. I have to admit to not giving Golson much attention, and it’s sad that it took his passing to motivate me to listen deeper into his discography.

His 1962 album Free is pretty far from Sam Rivers’ debut as a leader 2 years late, but it is a fantastic hard bop album. I was struck by Golson’s tone which Rudy Van Gelder’s recording really brings out.

His 1958 album The Other Side of Benny Golson is also worth a listen as it introduces his remarkable rapport with Curtis Fuller on trombone:

Finally, I’ve dabbled a bit with some of his later albums where he played sparingly and did most of his work as an arranger. I was particularly taken by Time Speaks, an album Golson recorded with both Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw in 1982. Shaw’s trouble life meant that there are precious few recordings of him really at the height of his powers, and this is one of them. Golson’s playing is occasional and understated, but good. Hubbard is Hubbard and like aways, he brings it: