Pianist
Chick Corea in 1996 gathered together some notable young all-stars (tenor-saxophonist
Joshua Redman, trumpeter
Wallace Roney, altoist
Kenny Garrett, bassist
Christian McBride, plus veteran drummer
Roy Haynes) for explorations of tunes by the innovative pianist
Bud Powell. Although "Bouncin' With Bud," "Tempus Fugit" and "Celia" have been occasionally recorded by others, most of the complex songs (including "Mediocre," "Dusk In Sandi," "Oblivion" and "Glass Enclosure") have rarely been played in recent decades. Rather than play revivalist bebop,
Corea and his associates (after authentically stating the melody) perform modern post bop improvisations in their own styles, so much of the music is way beyond bop. In addition to nine
Powell songs,
Corea contributed a song rightfully titled "Bud Powell." All of the talented musicians have a fair amount of solo space and sound consistently inspired, making this a very successful and easily recommended project. ~ Scott Yanow