The Lonely One (album)

The Lonely One... is a studio album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, released in 1959 by Verve, featuring three sessions that Powell recorded at Fine Sound Studios in New York in 1955.

The album was released as a CD replica by Verve (Japan) in 2006 (POCJ-2742). The sessions (with alternate takes) are also available on The Complete Bud Powell on Verve (1994) CD box set.

History
The first three tracks here, with the four tracks that appeared on Piano Interpretations, complete the April 27 session as far as master takes go. "Willow Weep for Me" from the April 25 session had already appeared on Piano Interpretations.

The January 13 session has excited comment, "...the most striking cut is the session's first. On "Mediocre," Powell plays a repetitive melody over a descending series of chords for about three minutes, making increasingly outré variations on the melody rather than soloing over the chords. Slyly humorous, in the manner of Monk, for the first minute or so, the descending chords become increasingly disjointed and mechanical as the record progresses..."

- Patrick Burnette

Track listing 12" LP (MGV 8301)

 * 1) "Confirmation" (Charlie Parker) – 4:24
 * 2) "Star Eyes" (Gene De Paul, Don Raye) – 3:32
 * 3) "Lullaby in Rhythm" (Clarence Profit, Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman, Walter Hirsch) – 3:53
 * 4) "Willow Weep for Me" (Ann Ronnell) – 4:43
 * 5) "Mediocre" – 2:59


 * 1) "All the Things You Are" (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) – 3:33
 * 2) "Epistrophy" (Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke) – 3:03
 * 3) "Dance of the Infidels" – 2:21
 * 4) "Salt Peanuts" (Dizzy Gillespie, Clarke) – 2:22
 * 5) "Hey George" (aka "Sweet Georgia Brown") (Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey) – 3:27

Performance
''April 27, 1955, side A tracks 1-3. April 25, 1955, side A track 4. Fine Sound Studios, New York.'' ''January 13, 1955, side A track 5 and side B tracks 1-5. Fine Sound Studios, New York.''
 * Bud Powell – piano
 * George Duvivier – bass
 * Art Taylor – drums
 * Percy Heath – bass
 * Kenny Clarke – drums

Production

 * Norman Granz – producer
 * Sheldon Marks – art director
 * Howard Morehead – cover photo