Bud Powell

Bud Powell was an American jazz pianist and composer born in New York City in 1924. A central figure in the bebop movement, he played with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie before leading his own groups. His virtuosic technique, harmonic sophistication, and original compositions such as “Un Poco Loco” and “Dance of the Infidels” helped define modern jazz piano. Despite periods of mental-health struggles and institutionalization, Powell recorded landmark sessions for Blue Note, Verve, and other labels through the 1950s and early 1960s. He spent his final years in Paris, where he continued to perform until his death in 1966.