The album was remastered and re-released on CD in 2001 by
Verve as a Verve Master Edition. The sessions also appear on The Complete Bud Powell on Verve (1994) box set.
History
The first session, with
Ray Brown and
Max Roach, took place on February 23, 1949 after Powell obtained a temporary release from
Creedmoor State Hospital where he was receiving psychiatric treatment,[3] and represents his second recording date as leader (the first being his
Roost session in 1947 – see Bud Powell Trio). The second, with
Curley Russell and Roach, is from February 1950, post-dating his first
Blue Note session for The Amazing Bud Powell.
Track listing
All songs were written by
Bud Powell, except where noted.
All of the tracks on Jazz Giant apart from "Cherokee" were first released in album form on two 10" LPs in 1950: Piano Solos and Piano Solos #2, the latter LP also having two tracks ("Tea for Two" and "Hallelujah!") from a separate session not on Jazz Giant.[4][5] "Cherokee" had only previously appeared as a single and on The Jazz Scene, a compilation album featuring various artists.[6]
Piano Solos 10" LP (MG 35012, MGC 102, MGC 502)
"Tempus Fugue-It" – 2:29
"I'll Keep Loving You" – 2:43
"Celia" – 3:01
"All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" (Kaper, Kahn, Jurmann) – 3:02
"Yesterdays" (Kern, Harbach) – 2:53
"Strictly Confidential" – 3:10
February 23, 1949, side A tracks 1-3,, side B tracks 1, 3.
Ray Brown – bass
Max Roach – drums
February 1950, side B track 2 – Powell solo.
Piano Solos #2 10" LP (MGC 507)
"So Sorry Please" – 3:18
"April in Paris" (Duke, Harburg) – 3:13
"Get Happy" (Arlen, Koehler) – 2:55
"Tea For Two" – 3:49
"Sweet Georgia Brown" (Pinkard, Casey) – 2:51
"Body and Soul" (Green, Heyman, Sour, Eyton) – 3:24
"Sometimes I'm Happy" (Youmans, Caesar) – 3:40
"Hallelujah!" – 2:59
February 1950, side A tracks 1-3, side B tracks 1-3.
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release. Because Powell's discography features albums with the same title, record labels are identified to avoid any confusion.