Jazz Giant is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, released on Norgran in 1950, featuring two sessions that Powell recorded for Norman Granz in 1949 and 1950. The album was remastered and re-released on CD in 2001 by Verve as a Verve Master Edition. The sessions also appear on The Complete Bud Powell on Verve (1994) box set.

History

The first session, with Ray Brown and Max Roach, took place on February 23, 1949 after Powell obtained a temporary release from Creedmoor State Hospital where he was receiving psychiatric treatment, and represents his second recording date as leader (the first being his Roost session in 1947 – see Bud Powell Trio). The second, with Curley Russell and Roach, is from February 1950, post-dating his first Blue Note session for The Amazing Bud Powell.

Track listing

All songs were written by Bud Powell, except where noted.

Personnel

Performance

February 23, 1949, tracks 1-6. February 1950, tracks 7-13.

Production

Release history

All of the tracks on Jazz Giant apart from "Cherokee" were first released in album form on two 10" LPs in 1950: Piano Solos and Piano Solos #2, the latter LP also having two tracks ("Tea for Two" and "Hallelujah!") from a separate session not on Jazz Giant. "Cherokee" had only previously appeared as a single and on The Jazz Scene, a compilation album featuring various artists.

Piano Solos 10" LP (MG 35012, MGC 102, MGC 502)

February 23, 1949, side A tracks 1-3,, side B tracks 1, 3. February 1950, side B track 2 – Powell solo.

Piano Solos #2 10" LP (MGC 507)

February 1950, side A tracks 1-3, side B tracks 1-3. July 1, 1950, side A track 4, side B track 4