ViewTube

🎹 Which Bud Powell recording captures his genius best? 🎶 

The "Hepsations of 1945" marked Dizzy Gillespie's first attempt to bring Bebop to a big band setting. However, the tour through the Southern United States proved difficult, and the modernity of the music didn't resonate with audiences as Gillespie had hoped, leading to disappointment. Upon returning to New York, the band performed a two-week engagement at McKinley’s in the Bronx includin vocalist June Eckstine.

During this time, Fats Navarro joined the group, bringing a fresh energy to the lineup. His presence at McKinley’s, and possibly later in Chicago and Detroit, has been confirmed by jazz legends like Jackie McLean and Max Roach. Navarro, alongside Freddie Webster and Kenny Dorham, delivered standout performances that underscored his exceptional talent. Despite the challenges of the tour, Navarro's contributions were a shining example of his growing influence in the bebop movement and a pivotal moment in his career.

Discover more about Fats Navarro:

 https://youtu.be/BBonFdE-2Ig