AMG Review of Ultimate Bud Powell

Stephen Thomas Erlewine
All Music Guide

Although serious fans and collectors will have little use for the disc, Ultimate Bud Powell is a solid collection of 12 highlights from the pianist's Verve recordings as selected by Chick Corea. For the curious neophyte, the disc offers a good overview of Corea's time at the label, featuring the pianist in a variety of different settings, including combos with Percy Heath, Max Roach, Kenny Clarke, Ray Brown and Art Taylor. Certainly, the disc should be thought of as an introduction, not the final word, but on that level it works very well. Among the featured numbers are "Celia," "I'll Keep Loving You," "Strictly Confidential," "Oblivion," "Hallucinations," "Buttercup," "Fantasy in Blue," "Willow Grove" and "Elegy."