Piano Prodigy

Mel Powell

Mel Powell was a prodigious child that soon attracted the attention of Art Tatum himself through his marvellous technique and swing. Mel became an extremely important element of the Benny Goodman Orchestra and Glenn Miller's AAF Bands as a pianist and as an exotic arranger. This collection mainly consisting of Commodore & Capitol sessions from 1943 to 1948 shows his jazz style in several contexts as a cross between Teddy Wilson and Earl Hines.


Tracklisting:

01. Jubilee (2:52)
02. When A Woman Loves A Man (2:39)
03. Hallelujah (2:58)
04. Stealin' Apples (3:23)
05. Hommage A Fats Waller (2:35)
06. Hommage A Debussy (3:10)
07. For "Miss Black" (2:17)
08. Don't Blame Me (2:52)
09. I Got Rhythm (3:55)
10. Lover Man (4:25)
11. Avalon (4:08)
12. Anything Goes (2:39)
13. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (2:08)
14. You Go To My Head (2:42)
15. You Better Not Mess With Me (2:48)
16. If Dreams Come True (2:30)
17. There's A Small Hotel (2:54)
18. Hallelujah (2:07)
19. Cuban Pete (2:33)
20. Cookin' One Up (2:29)
21. That Old Black Magic (2:25)
22. When A Woman Loves A Man (2:50)
23. Muskrat Ramble (3:07)

Total Time: (66:02)


Personnel on tracks #1-3:
Mel Powell (p). New York, December 21, 1943

Personnel on track #4: GLENN MILLER AAF ORCHESTRA
Bernie Privin (tp); Jimmy Pridy (tb); Peanuts Hucko (cl, ts); Mel Powell (p); Trigger Alpert (b); Ray McKinley (d). London, 1944 (?)

Personnel on tracks #5-8:
Mel Powell (p). Paris, 19 May 1945

Personnel on tracks #9: BENNY GOODMAN SEXTET
Benny Goodman (cl); Red Norvo (vib); Mel Powell (p); Mike Bryant (g); Slam Stewart (b); Morey Feld (d). New York, September 18, 1945

Personnel on tracks #10-11: MEL POWELL AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Bernie Privin, Neal Hefti, James Blake, John Carisi (tp); Warren Eason (fhr on 10 only); Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall (tb); Bill Shine, Mascagni Ruffo (as); Cliff Strickland, Danny Lapedus (ts on 11); Danny Bank (bs); Mitch Miller (oboe on 10 only); Mel Powell (p); Mike Bryant (g); Barney Spieler (b); Big Sid Catlett (d). New York, June 3, 1946

Personnel on tracks #12-18: MEL POWELL QUINTET
Jake Porter (tp); Bumps Myers (ts): Mel Powell (p); Red Callender (b); Lee Young (d). Los Angeles, December 10, 1947

Personnel on tracks #19-21: Same but Frank Beach (tp) replaces Porter and Chuck Gentry (bs) added. Los Angeles, December 31, 1947

Personnel on track #23:
Clyde Hurley (tp); Lou McGarity (tb); Gus Bivona (cl); Don Lodice (ts); Mel Powell (p); Tiny Berman (b); Frank Carlson (d). Los Angeles, September 28, 1948

Related Products

DRCD 11130 Two Cats & A Mouse Mel Powell, Joe Sullivan & Mary Lou Williams