Presentation Title & Abstract
Title: Preserving the jazz legacy of Bud Powell
By: Diane Biunno, Metadata Archivist at the Institute of Jazz Studies
Abstract: The Francis Paudras collection on Bud Powell includes footage of one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Bud Powell (1924-1966) was a tragic genius who experienced mental health and addiction issues throughout his life. While suffering a major mental and physical breakdown in the early 1960s, he befriended Francis Paudras, a jazz enthusiast who would later become his caretaker and benefactor. Paudras thoroughly documented his friendship with Powell by filming him as often as possible, including at nightclubs, festivals, vacation destinations, and in his Paris apartment. The Paudras collection contains over 20 hours of footage shot mostly on 16mm and 8mm film.
In Spring 2021, the Institute of Jazz Studies was awarded a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) to digitize the films. This presentation will explore highlights from the collection and discuss the digitization project.
Thelonious Monk & Bud Powell (right)
