Powell was perhaps the first pianist to vocalize on the piano, meaning that he transfered his vocalized improvisations directly through his hands to the instrument. This gave his music a deep connection to time, which is an artifact of the human voice. Previously, horn players were more likely to express their improvisations vocally, as the mouth and breath are directly tied to the performance of horn players.
Powell suffered from Bi-Polar Disorder, and in November 1947, Powell was admitted to Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, where he stayed for more than a year, receiving electroconvulsive therapy which caused severe memory loss. The young Jackie McLean and Sonny Rollins became friendly with Powell on his release from the hospital, and Powell recommended McLean to Miles Davis. However, Powell suffered from mental illness throughout his life, and had a reputation for his strange behaviour. In fact his problems, exacerbated by a beating from the police in 1945 for being disorderly, could all be attributed to being a manic depressive, although his illness was almost certainly a key driver of his immense creative talent. He was also an alcoholic, and even small quantities of alcohol had a profound effect on his character, making him aggressive. Powell's continued rivalry with Charlie Parker, while essential to the production of brilliant music, was also the subject of disruptive feuding and bitterness on the bandstand, as a result of Powell's troubled mental and physical condition. He spent all of 1952 (and parts of many subsequent years) in a hospital. When he was out of the hospital, he was often locked up in a hotel room and was usually denied receiving the money he earned performing.
It is generally agreed that his best recordings are those made prior to 1954, both for Blue Note Records and for Norman Granz (at Mercury Records, Norgran Records, Clef Records and later on Verve Records).
After 1953 (when Powell attempted suicide), his style became darker and slower. Many jazz critics pronounced him "washed up" during the last decade of his career. There were a few recordings which never should have been issued (Verve from January 1955 and Roulette Oct. 1964). Still, he continued to play with great intensity even without the speed that made him famous in the 1940s. His late 1950s Blue Note recordings are recommended. Bud performed regularly with drummer Kenny Clarke and bassists Oscar Pettiford or Pierre Michelot. He performed brilliantly as a sideman for Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, and Dexter Gordon on recordings in the early 1960s. As late as 1962 he recorded concerts in Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland, in which he played as brilliantly as he had played in the late 1940s. Powell moved to France in 1959, when his life was extended by several years under the care of a fan named Francis Paudras, whose book "Dance of the Infidels" is required reading for any Powell fan. Paudras' friendship produced many impromptu recordings and was the basis for the 1987 Bernard Tavenier film "Round Midnight", for which Dexter Gordon received a best actor Oscar nomination (as a fictional composite of Bud Powell and Lester Young).
Paudras and Powell returned to Birdland in the fall of 1964 to initial critical acclaim. Bud despised the drummer he had to play with and soon lost his regular engagement at Birdland. After Paudras returned to France without Powell, ESP-disk's founder became Bud's legal guardian, but let Bud self-destruct from late 1964 until his death in July, 1966. Bud's last recordings were a haunting, sparse "Round Midnight" from Carnegie Hall in March 1965 and other trio tracks from January 1966 on the mysterious "Ups 'n Downs" album.
He is survived by his daughter Celia, who has been reissuing Paudras' recordings of her father on the Pablo and Piadrum labels.
Deep Night
Bud Powell Lyrics
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Moonlight, lighting our place of love
Night winds seem to have gone to rest
Two eyes, brightly with love are gleaming
Come to my arms, my darling, my sweetheart, my own
Vow that you'll love me always, be mine alone
Deep night, whispering trees above
Deep night, deep in the arms of love
Come to my arms, my darling, my sweetheart, my own
Vow that you'll love me always, and be mine alone
Deep night, whispering trees above
Kind night, bringing you nearer, dearer and dearer
Deep night, deep in the arms of love
The song "Deep Night" by Bud Powell is a romantic ballad that speaks of love under the stars and the moonlight. The lyrics speak of the soothing calm and quiet of the night, the trees whispering sweet nothings above and the night winds having gone to rest. The focus, however, is on the the couple, whose love seems to be shining brighter than the stars above. The song urges the beloved to come close to the singer and be a part of the love that he has to offer. The song's tone is soothing and sentimental, an embodiment of the romanticism that is often associated with love under the stars.
The lyrics are characterized by their simplicity, a direct and heartfelt expression of love. The song makes use of a contrapuntal structure, where the melody of the song is played alongside another independent melody. This structure creates a sense of intimacy, as if the listener is being serenaded by the singer. Powell's playing is characterized by its speed and dexterity, with his improvisations creating a sense of excitement and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep night, stars in the sky above
The sky is dark and full of stars creating a peaceful and serene environment.
Moonlight, lighting our place of love
The moonlight is illuminating our location, where we are sharing our love.
Night winds seem to have gone to rest
The calmness of the night air indicates that the world has settled down to sleep.
Two eyes, brightly with love are gleaming
Your eyes shine with love and affection.
Come to my arms, my darling, my sweetheart, my own
Embrace me and show me your love, darling, sweetheart, and soulmate.
Vow that you'll love me always, be mine alone
Promise to always love me and be faithful to me.
Deep night, whispering trees above
The night is so quiet that we can hear the trees rustling as they sway gently.
Kind night, bringing you nearer, dearer and dearer
The night is bringing us closer together and increasing our love for each other.
Deep night, deep in the arms of love
We are lost in the depths of love in this peaceful and intimate moment.
Come to my arms, my darling, my sweetheart, my own
Once again, come to me and show me your love, my darling, my sweetheart, my soulmate.
Vow that you'll love me always, and be mine alone
Reaffirm your promise to always love me and remain faithful to me.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES E. HENDERSON, RUDY VALLEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind