Richie Powell
Piano Solo on
Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)

About

Richie Powell's piano solo is the first of two improvisations on this relaxed swing arrangement of Irving Berlin's gentle standard. Powell solos over the first half of the form, taking a half chorus of the 32-bar AABA in F at 108 BPM. His playing emphasizes melodic simplicity and warmth, the leisurely tempo allowing him to develop ideas with a spaciousness not afforded by the album's predominantly fast-tempo repertoire. This is the most restrained setting on the album, and Powell responds with an appropriately lyrical statement.

Richie Powell was 24 to 25 years old at the time.