Richie Powell
Piano Solo on
Take The "A" Train

About

Closing out the solo section, this piano improvisation spans one chorus of the 32-bar AABA form at a brisk 290 BPM. Pianist Richie Powell brings the solo section to a close with a single chorus at an even faster clip of 290 BPM, matching the mounting excitement. This is the most concise solo on the recording, making every phrase count within a compact space. The 32-bar AABA form, a staple of the Great American Songbook, offers both structural clarity and ample harmonic terrain for improvisation. Coming after Clifford Brown's trumpet solo, this is the final improvisation before the ensemble returns to the head.

Richie Powell was 23 to 24 years old at the time.