One of the leading figures in the development of modern jazz piano, Bud Powell was born on September 27, 1924 in New York City. Along with his astonishing keyboard technique Powell was also a composer. Miles Davis wrote in his autobiography that Powell was “one of the few musicians I knew who could play, write, and read all kinds of music. Bud was a genius piano player–the best there was of all the bebop piano players."

Bud Powell grew up in Harlem where his father was a stride piano player. Bud began piano lesson at age 5 and by the time he was in his teens was playing Fats Waller tunes at rent parties and was the pianist in his older brother’s band. By his late teens he was trying to play like Art Tatum and attending performances at Uptown House where he met another keyboard man named Thelonious Monk. Monk would become Powell’s mentor and introduced him to many of the bebop pioneers that were jamming regularly at Minton’s Playhouse. Monk’s tune In Walked Bud is dedicated to Powell.

Powell was the pianist in the Cootie Williams band and played on the first recording of Monk’s ‘Round Midnight in 1944. After being dismissed from the Williams orchestra in early 1945 Powell played on a series of recording dates with Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, J.J. Johnson, Fats Navarro and Kenny Clarke. In 1947 he made his only recording with Miles Davis.

Powell’s career was continually interrupted by incidents of erratic and sometimes violent behavior. He was incarcerated on several occasions and confined to hospitals on several others. After a confrontation in a Harlem bar in 1947 Powell was sent to Creedmore State Hospital for eleven months during which time he received electroconvulsive therapy. After being discharged he resumed his career and made several records as a leader for Blue Note which some critics have called the best playing of his career.

During the 1950s Bud Powell’s mental and physical health continued to deteriorate and he was hospitalized and incarcerated on several more occasions during the decade. He did participate in the famous “Jazz at Massey Hall” concert in 1953 along with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and Max Roach. He also continued to record sporadically throughout the decade for Blue Note Records and for producer and promoter Norman Granz.

In 1959 Bud Powell moved to Paris where he continued to perform and record. In 1963 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and returned to New York City. Continuing his battle with schizophrenia and alcoholism in addition to the new diagnosis, Powell’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and his behavior became more and more erratic. He passed away on July 31, 1966. The causes of death were listed as tuberculosis, malnutrition and alcoholism.

Despite his personal demons, Bud Powell was one of the most talented and creative pianists in the history of jazz. Herbie Hancock stated in a 1966 interview that Bud Powell was “the foundation out of which stemmed the whole edifice of modern jazz piano.”

Here is a link to a 1959 performance made while Powell was living in Paris:

"BLUES IN THE CLOSET"