Oscar Peterson Made The Piano Alive And Kicking!
Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 02/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album, released in 2000 under Verve Records, is a tribute to Oscar Peterson's 75th birthday. If you are the kind of listener who would rather listen to great compilation CDs, then this is just right for you. It is a repertoire of 21 melodic tunes taken from 17 different albums recorded between 1952 and 1970. Each track is such a delightful listen. The collection itself is a showcase of Peterson's exceptionally brilliant piano artistry with the support of his long-time collaborators -- equally talented and creative musicians: bassist Ray Brown, drummer Ed Thigpen, guitarists Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel.
This is actually the CD that I found out that he can also sing. Listen closely to "Orange Colored Sky" taken from his tribute album to another jazz legend, Nat King Cole, With Respect to Nat and you will agree with me that he sounds almost like NKC.
"My One And Only Love" is a sheer beauty and pure perfection! I love it that he injected a classical passage without a pause and does a segue of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." This lovely tune was taken from We Get Requests.
He painted "You Make Me Feel So Young" and "Come Dance With Me" in a canvas with chock-full of vibrant colors and added his artistic and lyrical touches that make them standout. These tracks were taken from his wonderful tribute album to a singer extraordinaire, A Jazz Portrait of Frank Sinatra.
"Someone To Watch Over Me" and "I Got Rhythm" are also given the best instrumental renditions that would have made George Gershwin beam with joy. Cole Porter's "Just One Of Those Things" is also an enjoyable listen and so with "Over The Rainbow."
Three of the tracks are Peterson's original compositions, notably commanding tunes, "Hymn To Freedom," "A Little Jazz Exercise" and "Place St. Henri" taken from Night Train, Tracks and "Canadiana Suite," respectively.
The only track recorded with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra is the utterly charming "Someday My Prince Will Come" done in an enchanting performance with orchestral arrangement by one of the greatest and most brilliant arrangers/conductors ever lived. It's an absolute delight! This is one of many Riddle works of art, a masterpiece filled with his trademark of excellence in orchestration. This was taken from Verve Jazz Masters 16.
Peterson's genius shows in every note of these impressive and pleasing to the ears jazz pieces. I could go on and on but suffice it to say that this is a welcome addition to your elegantly-decorated and best-dressed jazz collection.
P.S. Here's the complete track listing:
1. C Jam Blues
2. The Rain In Spain
3. Lulu's Back In Town
4. Mumbles (with Clark Terry on vocals)
5. My One And Only Love
6. I Got Rhythm
7. You Make Me Feel So Young
8. I Feel Pretty
9. Manteca
10. Swingin' Till The Girls Come Home
11. Orange Colored Sky
12. Someone To Watch Over Me
13. Just One Of Those Things
14. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
15. Place St. Henri
16. I'm A Fool To Want You
17. Come Dance With Me
18. A Little Jazz Exercise
19. Someday My Prince Will Come
20. Over The Rainbow
21. Hymn To Freedom"
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1