Bud Powell Trio
Birdland
New York, NY, USA
October 3, 1964

Goody's Speed/Pitch adjusted Remaster, v.2 via BluesFan (Thanks!)

From the archives of unreleased recordings made by Francis Paudras.

Band Lineup:
Bud Powell - piano
John Ore - bass
J. C. Moses - drums

Setlist:
1 I Mean You 05:50
2 Monopoly 04:48
3 I Know That You Know 02:45
4 Hot House 07:47
5 Blues In The Closet 04:51
6 I Hear Music 04:47
7 Conception 06:27
8 That Old Black Magic [inc] 06:33
9 Conception [Additional performance] 03:39

47:28


Lineage:
Original Francis Paudras tapes > ? > digital conversion to CDR > ? generations ) my CDR > EAC > wav files > FLAC files (TLH level 8) >

Goody's additional lineage:
TLH (WAV) > Audition (Correct DC Offset; Amplify tracks; Pitch Bender, various amounts; Pop/Click removal; Fades, etc. to smooth transitions) >
TLH (FLAC Level 8, Sector Boundaries Corrected; .ffp) > foobar2000 (tags)


From the original BluesFan Notes:
The EAC report indicates "Suspicious position 0:03:54" on track 7 and that the "Copy finished" not "Copy OK." I have listened to the wav file through Adobe Audition with no audible errors. I have also burned several copies from the wav files and they play perfectly well on three different CD players. I have included, in a separate file, an alternate rip of that track done with Nero 10, which indicated that the rip was fine.

Many fans of Earl "Bud" Powell know of the Mythic Sound recordings made by Francis Paudras and released on his Mythic Sound label. Those 10 albums were only the tip of the iceberg, with close to 40 CDs worth of recordings unreleased. For years, they have circulated in a very small circle of collectors, sold from one to another. I have acquired a complete set and have begun the tedious process of organizing and cataloging them. I will, as I get complete performances and compilations properly organized, share them here.

Bud Powell & Francis Paudras

Earl "Bud" Powell was one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, and, with Thelonious Monk, the pianists of bop. While Monk was a composer of the first order, Bud was arguably a better pianist. In the end, it doesn't matter because they were close friends and huge fans of each other. Monk was perhaps the most important teacher that Powell ever had, teaching many lessons at Minton's and other after hours clubs in Harlem and Downtown.

Beginning in the late 1940s, Bud began to receive treatment for psychiatric problems, which included electro-convulsive shock therapy. It is speculated that Bud's problems began with a brutal beating he received in 1945 by NYC police. He was also a very heavy drinker and drug abuser. He was to spend significant periods of time in mental institutions (a year beginning in November 1947, a stay from late 1951 to early 1953, and numerous shorter stays, with treatment protocols unknown. It is generally agreed that his finest work was prior to 1954, but he showed flashes of brilliance and his extraordinary dexterity until late 1964.

In 1959, he moved to Paris, where he met Francis Paudras who befriended him and helped manage his affairs. Paudras did what he could to limit Bud's drinking, and, at times, Bud lived in his Paris apartment. Paudras recorded many hours of recordings, some of which he released on his own Mythic Sound label.

In 1964, Bud decided to return to New York and arranged a six-week stand at Birdland. Paudras came with him and acted as his advance man, drumming up publicity and doing whatever he could to promote the engagement. Such was Paudras' devotion that he missed the birth of his son. At the end of the run, Bud, who had begun drinking very heavily again, decided to stay in New York. Deeply saddened, Francis returned to Paris.

Following Francis' departure began a downward spiral that ended with his death on July 31, 1966 from tuberculosis, malnutrition and alcoholism.

In 1979, Bill Evans said of Bud Powell:

"If I had to choose one single musician for his artistic integrity, for the incomparable originality of his creation and the grandeur of his work, it would be Bud Powell. He was in a class by himself."

Francis Paudras took his own life in November 1997.


Enjoy!

The Ol' Bluesfan

Goody's additional notes - 2026:
The alternate, shorter "Conception" is a completely different performance. The longer version here is played much better.
Additional tweaks to improve some drift have been applied to this updated edition.

Previously updated 7/18/11

This edition - Newly updated 9/30/26 (Happy Birthday, Bud!)