The Invisible Cage
| The Invisible Cage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1964 | |||
| Recorded | July 31, 1964 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 38:05 | |||
| Label | Fontana, Black Lion | |||
| Bud Powell chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Invisible Cage, also known as Blues for Bouffemont in some releases, is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell with Michael Gaudry on bass and Art Taylor on drums. It was recorded in France shortly before Powell's return to the United States.[1][2]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic (Ron Wynn) |   [3] |
| AllMusic (Scott Yanow) |  [1] |
| DownBeat | [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [2] |
| The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz | [6] |
In reviews for AllMusic, Ron Wynn described the music as "teeming, sometimes ragged but always blistering,"[3] while Scott Yanow noted that the album is "better than expected and probably [Powell's] last worthwhile recording."[1]
A reviewer for Billboard stated that Powell "sounds alive and well" on the album, and commented: "His two-handed explorations are much of what bebop was all about."[7]
Trevor Tolley of Coda remarked: "The fingering is bad: even when he hits the right notes, there is a lack of control of tone and emphasis."[8]
Jon Balleras of DownBeat gave a mixed review, recommending "Like Someone in Love" and "Blues for Bouffemont" but criticizing the fingering of the uptempo tunes.[4]
Track listing
All compositions by Bud Powell unless otherwise indicated
- "Blues for Bouffemont" – 5:44
- "In the Mood for a Classic" – 5:42
- "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen) – 7:04
- "Little Willie Leaps" (Miles Davis) – 4:08
- "My Old Flame" (Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston) – 4:15
- "Moose the Mooche" (Charlie Parker) – 3:42
- "Una Noche con Francis" – 4:04
- "Relaxin' at Camarillo" (Parker) – 4:23
Personnel
- Bud Powell – piano
- Michael Gaudry – bass
- Art Taylor – drums
References
- ^ a b c Bud Powell - The Invisible Cage Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-21
- ^ a b Swenson, John (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. Rolling Stone. pp. 163–4.
- ^ a b Bud Powell - Blues For Bouffemont Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-21
- ^ a b Balleras, Jon (September 12, 1974). "Bud Powell: The Invisible Cage". DownBeat. p. 28.
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2002). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 1214.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin Books. p. 692.
- ^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks". Billboard. December 22, 1973. p. 56 – via Google Books.
- ^ Tolley, Trevor (March 2000). "Dance of the Infidels: Bud Powell". Coda. No. 290. p. 30.