A follow-up to the Powell collection 1962 Copenhagen (reviewed in Jazzwise 269), these informal recordings of reasonable technical quality were rediscovered in his collection by Steeplechase owner Nils Winther during Covid lockdowns. Recorded at Stockholm’s famous Golden Circle and (probably) the Metropol Jazz House in Oslo, Powell was in a period of relative stability physically and mentally.

As with the Copenhagen issue, there are examples of considerable cogency, for instance on his 12-bar blues in F, ‘Dance Of The Infidels’ and elsewhere.

But in another 12-bar blues in F, Monk’s ‘Straight No Chaser’, the theme is taken at too fast a tempo for the pianist to negotiate easily and the track goes on far too long (presumably to fill up the length of a broadcast slot). A couple of the ballads are very ponderous, especially what’s designated as ‘If You Were Here’ (actually the Sinatra-associated ‘Just As Though You Were Here’), where time stands still and the bassist and drummer are left high and dry. Despite these downsides, it’s well worth hearing that on the same occasion Powell could also reach the heights of inspiration.