Seldon Powell

Seldon Powell (15 November 1928–25 January 1997) was an American soul jazz, swing and R&B tenor saxophonist and flautist born in Lawrenceville, Virginia, probably best remembered for his early work with musicians like Tab Smith (1949), Lucky Millinder 1949-51), Neal Hefti or Louis Bellson. During the 1960s he ventured into the soul jazz idiom and worked with musicians like Clark Terry, Lou Donaldson, Johnny Hammond Smith and Buddy Rich.

Discography

As leader

• Seldon Powell Featuring Jimmy Cleveland (Roost/Vogue, 1956) with Roland Hanna, Freddie Green, Aaron Bell, Osie Johnson, Gus Johnson
• Rhythm Plus One (Fresh Sounds Rec., 1956, Anthology)
• At the Hop (PMI)
• Messin' with Seldon Powell (Encounter Records, 1973)

As sideman

• Louis Bellson: The Driving Louis Bellson (Norgran, 1955)
• Neal Hefti: Hot'n Hearty (Epic, 1955)
• Tony Aless: Long Island Suite (Roost, 1955)
• Sonny Stitt: Sonny Stitt Plays Arrangements from the Pen of Quincy Jones (Roost, 1955)
• Friedrich Gulda: At Birdland (RCA, 1956)
• Billy Ver Planck: Jazz for Playgirls (Savoy, 1957)
• Eddie Sauter: The Sauter-Finnegan Orchestra – Directions in Music (RCA, 1952–58)
• A. K. Salim: Blues Suite (Savoy, 1958)
• Art Farmer: The Aztec Suite (United Artists, 1959)
• Aaron Bell: Music from Peter Gunn (Lion, 1959)
• Aaron Bell: Music from Victory at Sea (Lion, 1959)
• Billy Taylor: Billy Taylor with Four Flutes (Riverside, 1959)
• Bobby Donaldson:Jazz Unlimited (Golden Crest, 1960)
• Ernie Wilkins: The Big New Band of the 60's (Everest, 1960)
• Panama Francis: The beat behind million sellers (ABC, 1960)
• Reuben Phillips: Manhattan...3 a.m. (Poplar, 1960)
• Buddy Rich: The Driver (EmArcy, 1960)
• Sy Oliver: Annie Laurie (Sesac, 1960)
• Clark Terry: Color Changes (Candid, 1960)
• Teri Thornton: Devil May Care (Riverside, 1961)
• Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Look Out! (New Jazz, 1962)
• Jimmy Forrest: Soul Street (New Jazz, 1962)
• Sy Oliver: Easy Walker (Sesac, 1962)
• Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Black Coffee (Riverside, 1962)
• Billy Taylor: Brazilian Beat (Sesac, 1963)
• Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Open House! (Riverside, 1963)
• Charlie Byrd: Byrd at the Gate (Riverside, 1963)
• Clark Terry: What makes Sammy swing (20th Century Fox, 1963)
• Gary McFarland: Soft Samba (Verve, 1963)
• Willie Rodriguez: Flatjacks (Riverside, 1964)
• Panama Francis: Tough Talk (20th Century Fox, 1964)
• Modern Jazz Quartet: Jazz Dialogue (Atlantic, 1965)
• Chico O'Farrill: Nine Flags (Impulse!, 1966)
• Jimmy McGriff: The Big Band (Solid State, 1966)
• Cal Tjader: Soul Burst (Verve, 1966)
• Sonny Stitt - I Keep Comin' Back! (Roulette, 1966)
• Les McCann: Les McCann Plays the Hits (Limelight, 1966)
• Oliver Nelson: The Spirit of '67 with Pee Wee Russell (Impulse!, 1967)
• Bernard Purdie: Soul Drums (Date, 1967)
• David "Fathead" Newman: Bigger & Better (Atlantic, 1968)
• Eddie Harris: Silver Cycles (Atlantic, 1968)
• Albert Ayler: New Grass (Impulse!, 1968)
• Billy Butler: Guitar Soul! (Prestige, 1969)
• Hank Crawford: Mr. Blues Plays Lady Soul (Atlantic, 1969)
• Les McCann: Comment (Atlantic, 1970)
• Mose Allison: Hello There, Universe (Atlantic, 1970)
• Bernard Purdie: Stand By Me (Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get) (Mega, 1971)
• Ronnie Foster: Sweet Revival (Blue Note, 1972)
• Bernard Purdie: Soul Is... Pretty Purdie (Flying Dutchman, 1972)
• Groove Holmes: Night Glider (Groove Merchant, 1973)
• Charles Earland: Charles III (Prestige, 1973)
• Leon Spencer: Where I'm Coming From (Prestige, 1973)
• Looking Glass: Subway Serenade (Epic, 1973)
• Blue Mitchell: Many Shades of Blue (Mainstream, 1974)
• Rusty Bryant - Until It's Time for You to Go (Prestige, 1974)
• Jack McDuff - The Fourth Dimension (Cadet, 1974)
• Gato Barbieri: Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata (Impulse!, 1974)
• Les McCann: Another Beginning (Atlantic, 1974)
• Arif Mardin: Journey (Atlantic, 1974)
• Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (Arista, 1976)
• Millie Vernon: Over the Rainbow (CBS, 1986)
• The Basie Alumni: Swinging for the Count (Candid, 1992)