Return to Birdland, 64


Return to Birdland, 64, also known as Earl Bud Powell, Vol. 9, is a live album by American jazz pianist Bud Powell, recorded at Birdland on September 30, 1964 and was released by Mythic Sound in 1989. Powell's trio features rhythm section John Ore and J. C. Moses.

Recording and production

Francis Paudras wrote in his book Dance of the Infidels that he recorded Powell's Birdland sessions using a bootleg microphone he attached to the club's piano microphone. This enabled Powell to cue the song titles directly to Paudras to record. At one point Powell had to ask over the microphone what tune he was playing in the middle of his solo, as he suffered from severe amnesia at the time.

Reception

The Penguin Guide to Jazz wrote positively of the album, rating it 4 out of 4 stars and praising its "quiet joy."

Track listing

  1. "The Best Thing for You"
  2. "'Round Midnight"
  3. "I Want to Be Happy"
  4. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"
  5. "Wee"
  6. "Body and Soul"
  7. "That Old Black Magic"
  8. "Hallucinations"
  9. "It Could Happen to You"
  10. "Lullaby of Birdland"
  11. "Buttercup"
  12. "Conception"

Personnel