Bud Powell (1924–1966) was an influential American jazz pianist and composer, recognized as a pioneer of bebop and a key figure in shaping modern jazz piano. Emerging from a musical family during the Harlem Renaissance, he broke from traditional ragtime and stride styles with a driving right-hand technique that became central to bebop piano playing. Powell’s technical skill gained him prominence after joining Cootie Williams's band in the early 1940s. Despite personal struggles and health setbacks, his collaborations with leading jazz artists like Charlie Parker and Max Roach were instrumental in the evolution of jazz piano. Powell spent his later years in Paris, joining a vibrant community of expatriate musicians, before returning to New York where he died at 41. His compositions, including "Un Poco Loco," "Bouncing with Bud," and "Parisian Thoroughfare," remain jazz standards, and his life and music continue to inspire artists and filmmakers.