1959 · Album
The Amazing Bud Powell: Vol. 2
Recorded 1953-1954 · Norgran Records · Produced by Norman Granz
Bud Powell's Restless Inventions in Motion
Powell's fingers move like he's solving a puzzle only he can hear, relentless and exact.
By the time Bud Powell recorded Volume 2, he'd already shown the world what a bebop pianist could do — but he wasn't interested in repeating himself. These sessions find him in a different headspace than the first volume, less concerned with proving his technique and more focused on what he could actually say with it. The playing here is sharper, more conversational. Powell doesn't overwhelm you with speed; instead, he uses it strategically, pulling back just when you expect him to charge forward.
What makes this collection distinctive is how personal it feels. Powell's touch on the ballads cuts deeper than pure virtuosity would suggest. On the up-tempo pieces, there's a clarity to his ideas that's almost conversational — you can follow his thinking from phrase to phrase. He's not showing off for the sake of it. The rhythmic flexibility is remarkable too. Powell plays slightly ahead or behind the beat depending on what serves the melody, giving everything a natural, unforced quality that later pianists would try to imitate without quite capturing.
This isn't the album to start with if you're new to Powell. Begin with The Genius of Bud Powell (1956) or his trio records instead. Volume 2 is for people who've already fallen for his approach and want to hear him working through different material, different contexts. It's a middle chapter in his story — neither his breakthrough nor his peak, but a moment where he's confident enough to take risks that don't always pay off, and that honesty is worth hearing.
