All About Jazz

Home » Musicians » Benny Powell

Benny Powell Benny Powell

Born in New Orleans, Powell is, perhaps, best known for his 12-year tenure (1951-63) with Count Basie, and for his eight-bar contribution to the Count's all-time big hit, “April in Paris.” But more than that, Powell, in his all-too-rare solos with the Basie band, displayed a blues-laced, story-telling approach to improvisation. Check out, for instance, his masterfully balanced two-chorus statement on “Blues Backstage” from 1954, or “In a Mellotone,” recorded in a live performance five years later.

After leaving Basie, Powell embarked upon a rich, diverse musical career. A versatile and accomplished player, he has worked extensively on Broadway, television, and on numerous recordings.

During the 1960s and '70s, Powell graced the trombone sections of Duke Pearson's fine New York big band and the renowned Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. (His four-chorus solo on Jones'”Fingers” is a master class in modern jazz trombone improvisation.) He also began-and continues-to make his name as a leader in his own right, a respected teacher, and a dedicated activist in the cause of rights for jazz artists.

After a decade in Hollywood, where he worked on The Merv Griffin Show, Powell returned to New York in the early 1980s and connected with two visionary instrumentalist-composers, the late clarinetist John Carter and pianist Randy Weston, with whom he performed for over 30 years.

Read more

Tags

Benny Powell Trombone
Album Review
Interview
Album Review
Read more articles
I am distressed when I hear about the passing of a musician, but this news was particularly poignant because Benny Powell was one of our treasured members. Benny Powell will be missed as much for his humanity as for his musicality.

--Makin' Music NY

Last year, jazz writer Andrew Velez & Benny gave us permission to reprint a great article entitled, “Benny Powell: Trombone Titan.”

http://www.makinmusicny.com/profiles/blogs/benny-powell-trombone-titan.

Additionally, here are links to a few articles written about Benny by jazz writer Bob Bernotas:

http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/bennypowell-int.asp

http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/viewarticles.asp?ArtID=96

“Benny Powell's playing has always had a flowing coherence” --Nat Hentoff

“Be assured [NEXTEP] is no trip down nostalgia lane

Read more

Photos

Albums

Album Nextep by Benny Powell

Nextep

Origin Records
2008

buy
Best People

Best People

Benny Powell
Nextep

Watch

Similar

Will Sellenraad Will Sellenraad
guitar
Project Grand Slam Project Grand Slam
band/orchestra
Amina Figarova Amina Figarova
piano
Christian Howes Christian Howes
violin
Thomas Marriott Thomas Marriott
trumpet
Joe Baione Joe Baione
vibraphone
Idit Shner Idit Shner
saxophone
Belinda Underwood Belinda Underwood
voice / vocals
The Rodriguez Brothers The Rodriguez Brothers
band/orchestra
Wayne Wallace Wayne Wallace
trombone
Ofer Assaf Ofer Assaf
saxophone
Bill Heid Bill Heid
organ, Hammond B3
Elio Villafranca Elio Villafranca
piano
John Stetch John Stetch
piano
Ken Hatfield Ken Hatfield
guitar
Ben Markley Ben Markley
piano

Shop Amazon

All About Jazz needs your support

Donate
All About Jazz & Jazz Near You were built to promote jazz music: both recorded and live events. We rely primarily on venues, festivals and musicians to promote their events through our platform. With club closures, shelter in place and an uncertain future, we've pivoted our platform to collect, promote and broadcast livestream concerts to support our jazz musician friends. This is a significant but neccesary effort that will help musicians now, and in the future. You can help offset the cost of this essential undertaking by making a donation today. In return, we'll deliver an ad-free experience (which includes hiding the bottom right video ad). Thank you.

Get more of a good thing

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories and includes your local jazz events calendar.