At the Golden Circle is a live album by jazz pianist Bud Powell, bassist Torbjorn Hultcrantz, and drummer Sune Spångberg. Recorded at the Golden Circle jazz club in Stockholm on two nights,[1][2] it was released as a five-volume set by SteepleChase. SteepleChase condensed the album into two volumes in a later release as Swedish Pastry.[3]

At the Golden Circle
Live album by
Released1978
RecordedApril 19 & 23, 1962
VenueThe Golden Circle, Stockholm
GenreJazz, bebop
Length194:32
LabelSteepleChase
Bud Powell chronology
One Night in Birdland
(1977)
At the Golden Circle
(1978)
A Tribute to Cannonball
(1979)

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz    [3]

Scott Yanow addressed each of the volumes individually, but assigned them all three stars.[4] He noted, "The entire series is worth picking up by listeners who enjoy bop-based piano"[5] and praised the music while criticizing the length of the album.[1][6] Richard Cook in The Penguin Guide to Jazz sharply criticized the number of volumes, claiming "Volume 5 is probably a disc too far."[3]

Track listing edit

All compositions by Bud Powell unless otherwise indicated

Vol. 1 edit

  1. "Move" (Denzil Best) – 6:31
  2. "Just a Gigolo" (Julius Brammer, Irving Caesar, Leonello Casucci) – 1:16
  3. "Relaxin' at Camarillo" (Charlie Parker) – 9:08
  4. "I Remember Clifford" (Benny Golson) – 8:44
  5. "Reets and I" (Benny Harris) – 1:47
  6. "Hackensack" (Thelonious Monk) – 5:46

Vol. 2 edit

  1. "Like Someone in Love" (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 8:17
  2. "I Hear Music" (Burton Lane, Frank Loesser) – 7:25
  3. "Moose the Mooche" (Parker) – 5:52
  4. "Blues in the Closet" (Oscar Pettiford) – 15:21
  5. "Star Eyes" (Gene de Paul, Don Raye) – 3:25

Vol. 3 edit

  1. "Swedish Pastry" (Barney Kessel) – 18:26
  2. "I Remember Clifford" (Golson) – 9:09
  3. "I Hear Music" (Lane, Loesser) – 7:08

Vol. 4 edit

  1. "Moose the Mooche" (Parker) – 6:31
  2. "Star Eyes" (DePaul, Raye) – 7:59
  3. "Blues in the Closet" (Pettiford) – 7:45
  4. "Reets and I" (Harris) – 8:52
  5. "John's Abbey" – 7:45
  6. "Old Devil Moon" (Yip Harburg, Lane) – 6:28

Vol. 5 edit

  1. "Hot House" (Tadd Dameron) – 7:54
  2. "This Is No Laughin' Matter" (Buddy Kaye) – 8:32
  3. "52nd Street Theme" (Monk) – 4:07
  4. "Straight, No Chaser" (Monk) – 20:00
  5. Closing remarks – 0:35

Personnel edit

  • Bud Powell – piano, vocals (vol. 5, track 2)
  • Torbjorn Hultcrantz – bass
  • Sune Spångberg – drums

References edit

  1. ^ a b Bud Powell - At the Golden Circle, Vol. 3 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-22
  2. ^ Bud Powell - At the Golden Circle, Vol. 4 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-22
  3. ^ a b c Cook, Richard (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (8th ed.). Penguin. pp. 1078–9.
  4. ^ a b "Bud Powell Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  5. ^ Bud Powell - At the Golden Circle, Vol. 2 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-22
  6. ^ Bud Powell - At the Golden Circle, Vol. 5 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-12-22