Artist:Benny Powell
Song:Akiha
Album:Nextep
Jazz trombonist Benny Powell was mostly a sideman who would record as a leader very occasionally. This 2008 album Nextep was his final album before his 2010 death. He was born Mar. 1, 1930 in New Orleans. Powell started playing trombone professionally in 1944 and in 1948 he joined Lionel Hampton's band. He joined Count Basie's band in 1951 and remained there until 1963. That's him playing the trombone solo in Basie's 1955 recording of April in Paris. He appeared on albums by Buck Clayton, Frank Wess and Frank Foster. He also appeared on several trombone albums where trombonists get together. After he left the Basie band, Powell played with The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. They played every Monday night at The Village Vanguard in New York City. He was also in The Merv Griffin Show band and he moved to Los Angeles when that show moved. And then he got into session work. He recorded with among others Abdullah Ibrahim, John Carter and Randy Weston. Powell moved back to New York in the 80s. He recorded albums as a leader in 1979, 1982 and 1991. He was also part of New York's Jazzmobile program teaching jazz to kids. And he taught at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Akiha is from the 2008 album Nextep on Origin. Musicians are TK Blue on sax, Sayuri Goto on piano, Essiet Okon Essiet on bass and Billy Hart on drums. This band did some live shows. Sayuri wrote Akiha for her niece. She recorded it on her 2005 album Flashback which is available on CD. I am told that she has started a family and teaches piano in her home. I don't think she is active as a musician right now. Nextep is available as a digital download. Benny Powell died on June 26, 2010 at age 80. Here's Benny Powell with Sayuri Goto and band performing Akiha.
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