Bud Powell Blue Note/Roost Box

[BeBop]

Spotted a copy of this for a reasonable price. Just weighing the pros and cons of the box versus individual discs versus...? I know the music is priceless.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I have this set and it's fine with me. However, it's no longer complete as there are additional takes on the RVG reissues.

Mike

[danasgoodstuff]

There are more recent remasterings (all?) and the box notes are good but not great (I think the Verve box is the best bio of Bud available), so I gues it comes down to your feelings about RVGs and the price of the box.

[Nate Dorward]

It's good music of course--the first two discs are some of Powell's greatest recordings, & the last two while not nearly as essential are at a consistently good level, unlike some latterday Bud. That said the RVG remasters are I understand a considerable improvement on the rather unimpressive sound of some of the earlier sessions (I haven't done the comparison myself: I'm going on what Stuart Broomer tells me) so bear that in mind. The liner notes are OK but not remarkable.

[Brad]

I had this and enjoyed it but then I got some of the JRVGs and the RVGs and figured I was so set so I got rid of the box. If you don't have this material, this may be the way to go.

[Guest Mnytime]

The music is essential that is a given. If money is an issue and the box is at a really low price than get the box. If not than the RVG's are the way to go.

I would also like to point out that the Verve box is well worth getting as well. The first disc might be Bud's best playing.

If you ever come across these great but not often mentioned recordings pick them up

Bud Plays Bird (Roulette)

Bud Powell in Paris (Reprise) listening to this one now

Round Midnight at the Blue Note (Dreyfus)

[Brad]

Ditto on the Bud Plays Bird. Plus, I was just over at the www.freshsounds.com site after having looked at the Spanish Blue Note thread and they have that cd there too if you do a search for Bud.

[Philip]

Go with the RVGs, the Cedar noise reduction system was zealously used for the box set and that has dulled the sound. In the UK, the RVGs are frequently available at reduced prices.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

The RVG series apparently has no such stipulation. The Birth of the Cool sessions have absolutely nothing to do with Van Gelder, for example. Ditto for Ornette at the Golden Circle.

Mike

[Soul Stream]

not commenting on sound quality...RVGs win IMHO. That said, I LIKE that little Bud Powell Box quite a bit! I used to have one and it was quite worn. Wish I still had it.

[jazzbo]

Just bought (being a Powell FANATIC) a 24 bit lp facimile TOCJ of this released last November in Japan. It should arrive in a few days. . . . This should be the last non domestic piece of the puzzle I need for the material in the box set. I prefer the Japanese issues, and/or the US RVGs. Still have to try to find a cheaper copy of the expanded Japanese "Bud Powell Returns" than I have yet seen. . . . That has three additional tracks I've never heard.

Edited May 25, 2003 by jazzbo