Dance Of The Infidels: A Portrait Of Bud Powell [Paperback]

Francis Paudras (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 1998

What Charlie Parker was to the saxophone, Bud Powell (1924–1966) was to the piano: No jazz pianist can rival his brilliance. But his life was filled with tragedy, including years of electroshock therapy in psychiatric institutions, illnesses, physical and mental abuse from people who fed him dangerous drugs to control him, and the indifference of his contemporaries to his genius. Francis Paudras, a young jazz fan who met Powell in the late 1950s, released him from his unfavorable surroundings, encouraged him to create some of his finest music, and took care of him as if he were his child. Powell’s story, Dance of the Infidels, is one of the most moving of jazz memoirs—and served as the basis for Bertrand Tavernier’s film ’Round Midnight, starring Dexter Gordon. Here, for the first time in English, is a portrait of a friendship as surprising and heartbreaking as Bud Powell’s timeless music.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Film buffs will remember that, before Shine, there was 'Round Midnight, the Bertrand Tavernier bio pic loosely based on the lives of jazzmen Bud Powell and Lester Young. The intersection of artistic success and personal instability is something of a clich?; but the two do collide occasionally, as is the case here. Bud Powell (1924-1966) was a brilliant, badly damaged composer and pianist who is revered as one of the greats by his peers yet who was so down and out that he was often seen panhandling between gigs at Paris's legendary Blue Note club so he could gather enough francs to buy another "vin rouge" (almost the only French he knew). Paudras, who committed suicide last year, was a young French jazz fan who discovered the musician in the 1950s and took him in, forcefully separating Powell from the horrendous Buttercup, a self-appointed "wife" who used him as a meal ticket, drugging him and even taking his clothes so he couldn't get away. Dance of the Infidels is a real-time memoir that covers the last eight years of Powell's life, a period of transcendent creation and abysmal suffering. Although it doesn't have the arc of a definitive biography, this is an intimate account told by one who, if ultimately unable to explain Powell either to himself or to his readers, loved and cared for him as no one else did. 191 b&w photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

It is amazing that this notorious book, published in France in 1986, had never been published in the U.S. It is the story of the Frenchman Francis Paudras who came to the aid of U.S. jazz pianist Earl "Bud" Powell and helped him regain his life, to a degree, for a short time. Powell is a mythical jazz figure, a major innovator. Many people unsuspectingly learned aspects of the story of Bud and Francis from Bertrand Tavernier's `Round Midnight, the film that cast saxophonist Dexter Gordon in the Powell role. A central element of the film was the adulation of things jazz that permeated every foot of the action, as it does in the pages of this book--a photograph of Lester Young nailed to the wall of the Blue Note in Paris or Chet Baker playing his horn seated and mesmerizing listeners nonetheless. Yet Dance is about something else; mainly, it's about love between two friends. One horrendous episode, and there are many, occurred in 1963, when Powell became tired and listless and was diagnosed with tuberculosis; Francis had to have him hospitalized. Powell's recovery was amazing, and on the first Christmas since the friends were parted, Powell was able to come home (with Francis and his fiancee, Nicole): "Now it was his turn to give us his Christmas present, the best present of all. He walked to the piano. The moment was sublime." The book is a gem. Bonnie Smothers

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; First Thus edition (March 22, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306808161
• ISBN-13: 978-0306808166
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #556,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Portrait of a Man, August 9, 2002

By 

phillyfan329 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance Of The Infidels: A Portrait Of Bud Powell (Paperback)

Obviously any serious Bud fan will have to read this, being one of only a handful of books devoted to the genius. That being said I ended getting much more out of the read besides examining a period in a musician's life. Even if this book were not about one of my favorite musicians I still would recommend it highly and would call it one of the more interesting reads I have had. (I read it about 6 months ago.)
This book also becomes, inadvertently I believe, a study into human personality. Bud had numerous mental problems, many of which were pigeonholed as manic-depressive or schizophrenic. But the author's fly on the wall psychology savant observations (many obviously from journal entries) show that these diagnoses are simple and barely scratch the surface of the behavior of Bud Powell.
I think about this book often particularly when I am considering what makes a person a person. Before I read this book I thought I had an idea, but after reading it I am not so sure. It also led me to read more direct analyses of personality by Lucan and Piaget.
Bud begins the book in horrible shape, mental & physical, completely reliant on someone who cares nothing for his well being. He is unkempt and rarely speaks. You wonder how he could have reached the age he has with so few of the skills which are required for human survival.
When the author begins to interact with Bud it is almost always wordless, with the author describing Bud's input with non-verbal actions. How "looking into his eyes I could tell how Bud felt."
I was very skeptical believing perhaps the author's worship of Bud were clouding his judgment about Bud. Maybe the author wanted to communicate with Bud so bad he was sub-consciencely creating Bud's side of the conversation.
This hero worship by the author made certain that there was a bias to anything in the book, but a careful reader can still infer what actually took place.(It is nowhere near as revisionist as Miles Davis' autobiography.) And after reading the book I honestly believe that Mr. Paudras would never intentionally lie about anything to do with Bud Powell
As the action of the book proceeds you realize there must be something happening to Bud because of the healthy changes occurring and the gains Bud makes. Bud begins to perform again, gets healthier, and begins to take more control of his life. But major barriers still remain. Often he will only communicate with Francis. It went as far as when someone would ask Bud a question he would ignore it until Francis repeated the question to Bud and then Bud would only answer Francis. Also, Bud was greatly affected by even the smallest portion of alcohol, which would haunt him for the remainder of his life.
By the end of the book I was engrossed. There is even a heart-wrenching climax that was more affecting than most novels I have read. The denouement is too powerful to describe. (I am choosing my words carefully as not to give away anything)
There is a measurable action by Bud which makes me doubt the assessments that he was merely a child with a prodigal gift allowing him to never mature. Apparently, Bud would write poems to go along with most of his songs. Most have been lost. The poem by Bud included in the book is so lucent and shows a startling awareness that I was left contemplating why Bud behaved the way he did. Francis spent so much time with him it could not have been and act. Also, Bud hurt himself by acting this way that you have to believe he would have stopped if he could.
This book has helped make Bud's amazing art even more poignant for me. I believe every person has trouble relating to the world around him or her. To me, Bud music is about expressing these difficulties. Somehow trying to reconcile the sublime beauty of the world with the horrible darkness it also contains.
Although, my belief in heaven is dubious at best, if I could pick two people who deserve to be there it is Bud Powell & Francis Paudras.
My final comments are about the fate of the author who recently committed suicide. After getting to know a side of him through his book. (And I do believe the seeds of his demise are hinted at in the reading particularly in the last scenes.) It also opens up a whole slew of questions about when is life worth living, and is there any reward for those who love and bring goodness to the world when all they seem to receive is senseless pain.
As you can tell I have thought about this book considerably so if you have any insights you'd like to share please drop me a line at [e-mail]. Thanks. DW.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Shining Example of the Generosity of the Human Spirit, January 20, 2002

By 

Bruce Boldner (Townsville, Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dance Of The Infidels: A Portrait Of Bud Powell (Paperback)

For some time I had been tempted to buy this book, but had always been put off by the review on this page by the Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review, which describes it as a florid remembrance containing much passion (and by inference little substance).
Then recently I was told that an acquaintance had read the book and stated that it was one of the most moving stories he had ever read.
So on this recommendation I bought it and having just completed the book, I can now reiterate unequivocally that it truly is a remarkable tale of the generosity and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Herbie Hancock stated that Francis Paudras was a hero. I would add that he was a saint.
Francis was first drawn to Bud because of the latters musical genius, but then he also sensed the deep humanity and sensitivity of Powell. When he saw Bud's heartache as a result of being abused and at the mercy of people such as his (purported) wife Buttercup, he took him into his own home as a member of his own family. Paudras was a young and struggling graphic artist, living in a cramped apartment with a new (and fortunately equally kind and understanding) wife.
For years they fed, clothed and kept a roof over Bud's head, fought his battles with the police and Buttercup for him, nursed him through ill health, paid his medical bills and asked for nothing in return other than the deep satisfaction of knowing that they were bringing a measure of happiness, stability and love to a man whose deep humanity and musical genius made them love him unreservedly.
When Francis finally brought Bud back to the USA for a triumphant return gig, it was nice to see those people who held their hands out in genuine friendship and support. It was infinitely sad to read of those who showed indifference and sometimes even violence towards Francis as he continued to try and protect Bud from succumbing to the dark forces which had brought the latter to his mental breakdown originally.
As desparately sad as I feel for Bud after reading the book, I feel equally sad for Francis Paudras, who met with more personal tragedy of his own at the end of Bud's life.
Francis Paudras was clearly the sort of man who was extremely sensitive, especially to the plight of another. He gave his love and his life unconditionally to Bud Powell, asking (and receiving nothing material) in return. In a world where we are constantly confronted with man's indifference and hostility towards his fellow man, this is a story to remind you that there are people in this world who are decent, moral and have a deep capacity for unconditional kindness towards their fellow human beings.
After Bud Powell died, Francis Paudras lived for another 31 years before taking his own life. I pray that he found some happiness and loving companionship himself in those long years, especially in the face of the blind indifference, misunderstanding and even hostility such as that shown in the Los Angeles Times Review.
So please do yourself a favour and buy this remarkable book.
Even though it will make you sad, it is also uplifting. It deserves to be read as a paen to two remarkable human beings.
And say a prayer for Bud, for Francis, for Francis' wife Nicole and for Francis' little son Gilles.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant, Wonderful, *must read* book, December 30, 2000

By 

Robert D. Glover Jr. "robert-g-near-nyc" (Linden, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dance Of The Infidels: A Portrait Of Bud Powell (Paperback)

As my review below will show, I think Paudras' biography is essential reading for any fan of Bud Powell. Until recently it was the only book available on the subject. However a new book about Bud Powell has arrived on the scene and is available from Amazon. I have ordered my copy: The Glass Enclosure : The Life of Bud Powell -- by Alan Groves, Alyn Shipton.
"Dance of the Infidels" is absolutely first rate. It is for good reason that the back cover contains endorsements both by Marian McPartland and Herbie Hancock. I heartily agree with Marian McParland: "...Francis Paudras has captured the genuius who was Bud Powell in this fascinating book..." I agree with Herbie Hancock too: "Francis Paudras is a hero who has dedicated his life to preserving the history of the great cultural figures of jazz...This book is a wonderful living document of his personal relationship with the genius of Bud Powell..." As for the importance of Bud Powell, here is a quote from Bill Evans: "Of all the musicians I ever loved--Bird and Stan Getz and Miles and lots of others that no one even knows I listened to--it was Bud who influenced me the most..." (By the way, be sure to read "Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings" by Peter Pettinger.) I personally feel that "Dance of the Infidels: A Portrait of Bud Powell" should be required reading in all jazz programs at every college, university, and school in the country if not the world. It is a profound book. I feel sorry for anyone who is unable to appreciate this book. You will never listen the same way to Art Tatum or Dizzie Gilespie or Monk or, of course, Bud, after you read this book. The inside cover mentions that Francis Paudras committed suicide on November 27, 1997.