Best Oscar Peterson?
JazzMan
album? I have Canadiana Suite, and his first recording ever as a kid,
and also this album with Dizzy Gillespie, but I dont think they are
very representative of his work. Any recommendations?
jazzman
Peter W. Bosse
"Night Train"
P.W. Bosse
CPH/DK
"The Music Will Live On and On",
Thank you, John.
-McCoy Tyner
Ron Hearn
at the Stratford Festival.
In article <Tt6o4.670$F4.2...@news010.image.dk>,
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Helge Gundersen [Mr]
minority of Oscar's records, I'll buy that view gladly. The trio (Brown
and Thigpen) fell into a sort of focused gentle push that sounds quite
unique. I don't know what happened in the studio that day, but I can
imagine that the ambience didn't leave room for excessively much talking
between takes.
The CD issue of the live recording from the Shakespearean festival sounds
like a good sample of the first classic trio (with Herb Ellis), although
it's the only one I've heard... Interaction is good, and the final track
has an interesting composition of Oscar's. Recently, I heard a track on
the radio from a recording from the early 60's (the word "Very" in its
title?). I think it was co-led, and Milt Jackson appeared. But Oscar
played fantastic, more inspired than ordinary. I went to the All-Music
Guide, and indeed, OP's playing was singled out as the reason to get that
album. I heard only one track, though.
-- Helge
In article
<652D60D7DF5B1AEA.70C483DD...@lp.airnews.net>,
Leo Scanlon
Gundersen [Mr]) wrote:
>It's a dogma that Night Train is the best, and while I have only heard a
>minority of Oscar's records, I'll buy that view gladly.
Actually, I prefer "West Side Story." I can also highly recommend
"Live At the Blue Note" (1990, with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown) and
"Oscar Peterson & the Bassists" (1977, with Thigpen, Ray Brown, and
Niels Pedersen).
>
>Recently, I heard a track on
>the radio from a recording from the early 60's (the word "Very" in its
>title?). I think it was co-led, and Milt Jackson appeared.
I believe you mean "Very Tall", recorded in 1962. Yes, great album
Leo
chris watson
Ray Brown and Bobby Durham are fantastic (Telarc) , but my favourite are
Digital at Montreux (1979) with Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson and Nigerian
Marketplace, which is from Montreux in 1981 and has the same chap on Bass,
and Terry Clark on Drums. Amazing playing all round. You MUST hear them -
both on Pablo Records.
Chris Watson
kokopuff
on trumpet. Very nice.
"JazzMan" <ba...@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:652D60D7DF5B1AEA.70C483DD...@lp.airnews.net...
Robert J. Dewar
loved the effortless swing and sense of fun this recording reveals. I just
have the LP, but I think it is available on CD under a different name.
Robert J Dewar
who also likes "Live in Russia" on Pablo. But that may be because it was the
first jazz record that blew me away. :)
Marc Sabatella
trios - with Ray Brown and either Herb Ellis or Barney Kessel on guitar,
also something from the trio with Brown and Ed Thigpen, and something
from one of the later drummerless trios with Niels-Henning Oersted
Pedersen (NHOP) and Joe Pass, and then, if you really want
representative, one of the numerous jam session recordings he played on.
--------------
Marc Sabatella
ma...@outsideshore.com
Check out my latest CD, "Second Course"
Available on Cadence Jazz Records
Also "A Jazz Improvisation Primer", Sound clips, Scores, & More:
http://www.outsideshore.com/
Steve Bosarge
JazzMan wrote:
> Can anyone recommend to me what they think is the best Oscar Peterson
> album? I have Canadiana Suite, and his first recording ever as a kid,
> and also this album with Dizzy Gillespie, but I dont think they are
> very representative of his work. Any recommendations?
Since you didn't indicate if you prefer OP solo or with group, here are my
favorite top 2 in each category: Unfortunately, I don't know if CD's are
available of the OP recordings I consider his best in both categories, but
am listing them anyway. Both 2nd choices are on CD.
GROUP:
1. RETURN ENGAGEMENT - Verve V3HB-8842 (1974). This 2-lp album is my
over-all
favorite OP, as he plays more jazz standards than general standards.
Particularly recommended tracks among the jazz standards: Waltz for Debbie,
I Remember Clifford, Li'l Darlin', Con Alma, and C Jam Blues. OP's take on
Georgia on My Mind is extraordinary. CD: ?
2. HISTORY OF AN ARTIST, VOL. 1 & 2 - (LP: Pablo 2625 702 & 2310 895; CD:
Pablo/Fantasy 2PACD-2625-702-2 (1993) An excellent 138-minute compendium
of 23 studio recordings and one live recording between 1972 and 1974,
produced by Norman Granz.
Outstanding tracks include Reunion Blues, Greasy Blues (for Count Basie),
Old Folks, and I Wished on the Moon.
SOLO:
1. TRACKS - Verve MPS Series 821 849-1 (1970). Worth the price for "Give
Me the Simple Life" and "Basin Street Blues" alone. Oscar's a terror on
both. CD: ?
SOLO:
2. MY FAVORITE INSTRUMENT - MPS European #583 721, American #68076 (1980).
Highlight: Perdido. This album is now available in a 4-CD Verve package,
EXCLUSIVELY FOR MY FRIENDS.
Steve Bosarge
sendt...@yahoo.com
the other Jackson/MP CD are both good. There is no overlap between
the 2 CDs, but I won't suggest the 5 CD MJ/OP boxed set today.
(I loved it, but I don't think an $80 set is what JazzMan is looking
for right now). I also liked The Trio Live (taken from the London
House sessions, another expensive multi-CD set). There is also
Exclusively for my Friends - the Lost Tapes (from the sessions that
produced the Exclusively for my Friends box set), My Favorite
Instrument (the solo work from that boxed set), Tracks, Affinity/
Jazz Soul of Oscar Peterson, Blues Etude...
I'd suggest the Trio Live - I haven't been all that happy with
the sound quality of the other live CDs of OP's I have, even if
the music is great. The Lost Tapes was my first OP CD (from
a record club - my options for the free 1st CD were limited and
I lucked into it) and got me spending way too much $$ on Peterson
CDs.
In article
<652D60D7DF5B1AEA.70C483DD...@lp.airnews.net>,
ba...@airmail.net (JazzMan) wrote:
> Can anyone recommend to me what they think is the best Oscar Peterson
> album? I have Canadiana Suite, and his first recording ever as a kid,
> and also this album with Dizzy Gillespie, but I dont think they are
> very representative of his work. Any recommendations?
>
> jazzman
Jazzcorner
issued on RCA), the the long period with Verve on the JATP sessions as
well as the trios with Ray (b) and Barney (g) and later with Herb
Ellis (g). Then his great period with the label MPS and finally on
Telarc, Blue Note and others.
My favorite sound of "The Trio" are the recordings with Ray Brown (b)
and Herb Ellis (at Stratford or on the town or at concertgebouw plus
the 2 albums with Stan Getz). Either one of those and you can`t miss.
The later trio with bass and drums never hat this intensity as the
bass/guitar sound.
But this is only my own personal taste.
W.B.
JazzMan <ba...@airmail.net> schrieb in im Newsbeitrag:
652D60D7DF5B1AEA.70C483DD...@lp.airnews.net...
Stuart Woltz
duets with Count Basie, also Pablo.
But the best new thing I've heard recently is the "In Concert with Europe 1"
CD which has cuts from various Paris shows throughout the '60s. It's very
hard to find but there are copies available at CDdiscounters.com for $7.99.
JazzMan <ba...@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:652D60D7DF5B1AEA.70C483DD...@lp.airnews.net...
sendt...@yahoo.com
"The Trio Live" and "The Trio Live in Chicago" are the same
CD (and one I recommended).
In article <87slvu$do$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,
sendt...@yahoo.com wrote:
> The Verve Jazz Masters CD (Oscar Peterson and Milt Jackson, 44?) and
> the other Jackson/MP CD are both good. There is no overlap between
> the 2 CDs, but I won't suggest the 5 CD MJ/OP boxed set today.
> (I loved it, but I don't think an $80 set is what JazzMan is looking
> for right now). I also liked The Trio Live (taken from the London
> House sessions, another expensive multi-CD set). There is also
> Exclusively for my Friends - the Lost Tapes (from the sessions that
> produced the Exclusively for my Friends box set), My Favorite
> Instrument (the solo work from that boxed set), Tracks, Affinity/
> Jazz Soul of Oscar Peterson, Blues Etude...
>
> I'd suggest the Trio Live - I haven't been all that happy with
> the sound quality of the other live CDs of OP's I have, even if
> the music is great. The Lost Tapes was my first OP CD (from
> a record club - my options for the free 1st CD were limited and
> I lucked into it) and got me spending way too much $$ on Peterson
> CDs.
>
> In article
> <652D60D7DF5B1AEA.70C483DD...@lp.airnews.net>,
> ba...@airmail.net (JazzMan) wrote:
> > Can anyone recommend to me what they think is the best Oscar
Peterson
> > album? I have Canadiana Suite, and his first recording ever as a
kid,
> > and also this album with Dizzy Gillespie, but I dont think they are
> > very representative of his work. Any recommendations?
> >
> > jazzman
> >
> >
>
Hoyer
> album? I have Canadiana Suite, and his first recording ever as a kid,
> and also this album with Dizzy Gillespie, but I dont think they are
> very representative of his work. Any recommendations?
>
> jazzman
>
"Night Train" was my first response, which I first heard in 1973 in high
school. But since so many others agree, I'll go with my second choice, which
is anything by Art Tatum. Just kidding (although I prefer thematic
pianists). No one plays with more articulation than O.P., a true giant. My
favorite Oscar is also not very representative: Porgy and Bess, duet with
Joe Pass, classical guitar, and Peterson on clavichord.
Craig Hoyer
John Ryan
them solo and duets. Not currently available on CD, I believe.
Victor Eijkhout
> Digital at Montreux (1979) with Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson and Nigerian
> Marketplace, which is from Montreux in 1981 and has the same chap on Bass,
> and Terry Clark on Drums. Amazing playing all round. You MUST hear them -
Seconded. I'm also rather partial to "Ella and Oscar" where OP proves
that he can play second fiddle on occasion.
--
Victor Eijkhout
"the time comes for everyone to do deliberately what
he used to do by mistake" [Quentin Crisp]
Victor Eijkhout
> one of the later drummerless trios with Niels-Henning Oersted
> Pedersen (NHOP) and Joe Pass
And there is the drummerless quartet with Toots Thielemans that has a
rather memorable rendition of Caravan. Live at the North Sea Jazz
Festival.
Ulf Åbjörnsson
Victor Eijkhout skrev i.
> chris watson wrote:
> > Digital at Montreux (1979) with Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson and
Nigerian
> > Marketplace, which is from Montreux in 1981 and has the same chap on
Bass,
> > and Terry Clark on Drums. Amazing playing all round. You MUST hear
them -
> Seconded. I'm also rather partial to "Ella and Oscar" where OP proves
> that he can play second fiddle on occasion.
If you are going to include records with Oscar as an accompanist you have to
chip in all three Ella & Louis LPs!
Ulf in Svedala
Lincoln
Lincoln
Steve Bosarge
>
> "Steve Bosarge" writes:
> > SOLO: 2. MY FAVORITE INSTRUMENT - MPS European #583 721, American
> > #68076 (1980). Highlight: Perdido. This album is now available in a
> > 4-CD Verve package, EXCLUSIVELY FOR MY FRIENDS.
>
>
> which contains a version of "Body and Soul", anyone know which album
> this version comes from ? The only album i could find in the store
> which had it was "My Favourite Instrument", but i suspect that OP has
> recorded it multiple times. Is there a re-mastered version of "My
> Favourite Instrument" available ?
>
>
I have no information on "My Personal Choice" or its label or even if this
compilation's version is solo or a group rendition of Body and Soul. If it
is
solo, it could well be the version from "My Favorite Instrument."
If not a solo version, the track time should be a good clue to the version's
origin.
If it runs 11:49, then I think the version is from what I say is OP's finest
Body and
Soul, which is the one on the 10" lp produced in Feb. 1952 by Norman Granz,
"Oscar Peterson Quartet No. 2" (Clef 162, Feb. 1952). With OP on this is
Ray
Brown, Barney Kessel and Alvin Stoller. Happily, this version is on the CD
"Verve
Jazz Masters 37 - Oscar Peterson Plays Broadway" (Verve 314 516 893-2),
though not re-mastered. IMO, the next likely source is the Dec. 1951
version cut
in NYC with the same personnel, "Oscar Peterson Quartet" (Metronome
0040.198),
for distribution in Europe.
I don't know if "My Favorite Instrument" has been re-mastered. My
recordings of this
and the other 6 MPS albums that make up the 4-CD box set, "Exclusively for
My Friends,"
are a CD/lp mixture.
You're certainly right about OP's repeated recordings of Body and Soul.
Undoubtedly
others now will surface. The tune also is on these OP lp's which I own or
have heard and noted:
1. "Oscar Peterson - 1951" (Just a Memory, Canadian label). Piano and bass
only,
20 short tracks, poor quality recording, IMO.
2. "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (Pablo 2310 821), recorded 4/25/78 in
Los Angeles. An excellent Sarah Vaughan assortment with Oscar in his
incomparable
accompanist role, along with Ray Brown, Joe Pass and Louis Bellson.
3. "Ain't But a Few of Us Left" (Pablo 2310 873), recorded 11/30/81 in NYC.
Milt
Jackson, OP, Ray Brown, and Grady Tate cook on this one.
It surprised me that nowhere in my collection do I have a Body and Soul
rendition by an
OP trio, his most-recorded configuration. I have him doing the tune only as
solo, duo,
quartet and quintet. With so many OP recordings out there, surely someone
has the trio
doing Body and Soul?
> I also love the tunes on Night Train, but didn't like the quality of
> the recording, i felt that the recent Verve Release (double-album) was
> much better in quality. Is there a re-mastered version available ?
I don't know if "Night Train" has been remastered. My 1995 "Night Train" CD
(Jazz Heritage 513 852K) is not from a remaster.
Steve Bosarge
Joerg Garritzmann
Nighttrain etc.), I am also still searching... I once heard some tunes
at radio that I liked and that I cannot remember exactly. These were
slow tunes and OP did not improvise in long phrases but more in single
notes - a style that I prefer. Could have been a solo or drummerless
recording but I am not shure. Any recommendations...?
I also have a nice bootleg with brazilian uptempo tunes. Did OP also
make studio recordings like these?
J.
Loudon Briggs
>Since I did not yet listen to a really outstandig record of OP (I own
>Nighttrain etc.), I am also still searching...(CLIP)
>
>J.
Got in here late but one mention I don't think I've seen is, Saturday
Night At the Blue Note... Peterson, Ellis, Brown and Bobby Durham on
drums.
There are several numbers I like but perhaps my favorite OP work is a
number called Nighttime. He fully displays every facet of his
abilities, from soft and tender up through his usual 6 pounds in a 5
pound bag, some terrific stride and then back down to a lovely exit
and finish.
This is a number that I like so much that I can listen to it a couple
of times in a row.
--
Loudon Briggs lar...@bbz.net Phoenix, Arizona, USA)
Barnaby Finch
compliation (of 6 LP's released long ago on MPS) entitled "Exclusively For
My Friends".
Barnaby