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.
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Bud Powell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
All around a pug-nosed dream
The music started and was I the perplexed one
I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams
There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
As we floated over the floor
There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
And perhaps a few things more
Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"
And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
When I kiss the pug-nosed dream
Bud Powell's "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" is a love song that describes the romantic encounter between two people who meet at a garden dance. The lyrics convey a nostalgic and happy atmosphere where the two fell in love. The first verse depicts the moment they met: a country dance was happening in a garden when one of them accidentally bumps into the other. It is followed by the image of "polka dots and moonbeams" all around the person they feel attracted to. The phrase "All around a pug-nosed dream" used here is a simile that indicates the person's dreamy look.
In the second verse, the singer reflects how the music started, and they asked for the next dance, terrified, but the polka dots and moonbeams made it feel like a dream. They then proceed to describe the wonder of being with somebody they love. While the other dancers have questions and judgments, they know all the answers in each other's heart. Finally, in the last verse, the song describes a cottage of "lilacs and laughter" where the singer knows the meaning of the words "ever after" and promises to always see polka dots and moonbeams when kissing his beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
A country dance was being held in a garden
I attended a dance party in a beautiful outdoor setting.
I felt a bump and heard an "Oh, beg your pardon"
I accidentally collided with someone and they apologized.
Suddenly I saw polka dots and moonbeams
In that moment, I noticed something beautiful and magical.
All around a pug-nosed dream
It was surrounding a person who I found endearing despite their physical appearance.
The music started and was I the perplexed one
I was unsure of how to dance to the music when it began.
I held my breath and said "May I have the next one?"
I mustered up the courage to ask for a dance with someone.
In my frightened arms, polka dots and moonbeams
As we danced, I felt a magical aura of beauty and wonder.
Sparkled on a pug-nosed dream
It was emanating from the same person as before.
There were questions in the eyes of other dancers
Others were curious about our dancing and relationship.
As we floated over the floor
We danced gracefully and peacefully.
There were questions but my heart knew all the answers
Despite the uncertainty of others, I was confident in my feelings for this person.
And perhaps a few things more
There may have been even more depth to my emotions.
Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
We are now in a joyful and fragrant home together.
I know the meaning of the words "Ever after"
I understand the true meaning of happiness and forever.
And I'll always see polka dots and moonbeams
Whenever I think of this person and our love story, I'm reminded of that magical night.
When I kiss the pug-nosed dream
Every time we kiss or embrace, I still see that magical aura.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Broma 16, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES VAN HEUSEN, JIMMY VAN HEUSEN, JOHNNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pinkie Eldred
Bud Powell certainly had a unique way of combining great chord and melodic structure differently. A pleasure to hear this....beautifully done
Warren Doris
tOTALLY AGREE!
ysgol3
In his marvellous new autobiography, Woody Allen says this recording is one of his main reasons for continuing to live !
La Agne
I was here for this quote I heard!
ice la honk
that and his daughter
Francisco Villa-Richardson
Agree
Valorie Phillian
What he said is:
“Sophocles said to never have been born may be the greatest boon of all. Of course I’m not sure he would’ve said that if he ever heard Bud Powell play “Polka Dots and Moonbeams.”
Voilà
chetbaker83
@ice la honk Whose daughter ?
Darryn Brown
This is a cool sound. He makes the piano sing!
Jeremy Rutenberg
idk why but this is so much better than all the other versions