Artist: Oscar Peterson

Wonderfully fantastic!, 2008-06-19
We Get Requests is a 'Diet' version of Oscar Peterson. The majority of his albums 'wow' the listener and, sometimes, they are left unconnected and overwhelmed when swamped by Oscar's furious techical ability. Not in this album, however.

If you are new to the world of Oscar Peterson, or perhaps feel as though you would like to explore a different, more sensitive side to his playing then this album is perfect for you. In all the tracks Oscar is contained. He never shifts into a high gear. He seems somewhat limited. But this is all to good effect.

The album is addictve: it is so easy to listen to. The Trio is performing as a unit to the highest of levels. Brown and Thigpen are so tight in the background that they take Peterson's piano to a new dimension. It is unusual, especially for Oscar, that he doesn't explore the piano AT ALL - his left hand provides a chordal accompaniment and his right hand remains in the upper octaves of the piano, but this only increases the 'catchiness' and lightness of the pieces.

Quiet Night of Quiet Stars* is a tremendous start to the album - I personally think Peterson is at his best with Latin/Bossa Nova pieces, and this is proved with his light, yet so effective, playing on The Girl from Ipanema. You Look Good to Me is another delicate yet poignant piece - it demonstrates the Trio's teamwork brilliantly. The album is full of delights and is applicable for all scenarios: background music, personal listening etc.

Overall this is a well crafted and sensitive album. Although Peterson is restrained throughout and rarely demonstrates his full ability he plays for the listener and provides them with a feast of musical enjoyment. An album to acquire at all costs.

*A transcription of 'Quiet Night of Quiet Stars (Corcavado)' from this album is availible in the book 'Oscar Peterson Trios' by Hal Leonard.

Artist: Oscar Peterson

Incredible bargain., 2010-01-18
This must rank as one of the great bargains of all time. Ten CDs for less than £10.00 offering almost 13 hours of music. OK, not every CD is perfect but for this money one can afford to pick and choose. The first 5 CDs offer the original Peterson recordings of some ten songbooks with his early piano, guitar and bass trio from the period 1952 to 1954. These are perfectly OK but Peterson re-recorded much of this music later in the fifties with his piano, bass and drums (Ed Thigpen)group and these later recordings are superior in every way. CD number 6 presents OP with Billie Holiday, and all star groups, from the period 1952 to 1954. Billie's voice was, by now, a bit fragile, but still worthy of the utmost respect. CD number 7 presents two sessions. The first with Ben Webster aided, on some tracks, by Sweets Edison and Benny Carter is very enjoyable without ever reaching great hights. The second session with Flip Phillips is an absolute gem. I don't think I had ever heard Phillips away from the Herman band before and can't understand why he did not command more attention. Next up are sessions with Dizzy Gillespie plus Stan Getz and one with Lester Young. In terms of quality this is probably the best CD in the set although the frantic "Don't mean a thing" with Gillespie and Getz is a bit of a bore. The last 2 CDs present the complete 1953 JATP concert from Carnegie Hall. As with all such events it is a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly but, thanks to clever production, one can pick out favourite soloists from the longer tracks without listening to everyone else. Once again I find myself enjoying the ballad medley tracks more than the jam sessions and noting just how good, and popular, was Flip Phillips.
In conclusion I rate this as a "must have" purchase together with the Peterson Songbooks issue on the Not Now label as only one item (the Ellington Songbook) is duplicated.

Artist: Oscar Peterson

Alternative Peterson., 2010-01-18
Don't be put off this release by some of the above comments or the fact that a 10 CD release is now available at less than a tenner. This disc consists of four albums only one of which is on the Avid box set, namely the Ellington songbook. Of the others, the Kern Songbook and the Warren & Youmans Songbooks are examples of Peterson re visiting these composers with his bass and drums trio. Ignore the given recording dates given for these two. They almost certainly come from later in the 1950s and are, in my opinion, far superior to the original piano, guitar and bass efforts. The remaining set, "The Count Basie Songbook" is a bit of a misnomer in that Basie did not write or co-write more than four of the tracks. It is, however, an enjoyable session and does not appear on the Avid release. In conclusion, I can thoroughly recommend this CD as good value for money and an ideal companion to the Avid release.

Artist: Oscar Peterson, Ben Webster

Ben Webster's tenor saxophone is one of the utterly distinctive and inimitable sounds in jazz and in 1959, when this set was recorded, it had reached its full breathy, melting ripeness. It was more than an instrumental tone; it was a voice, with all the variety of nuance that the human voice can command. He applies it here to seven classic American songs, well-known melodies which he explores with the ease and relaxation of long familiarity. Only Sinatra's own version could equal Webster's exposition of "In The Wee Small Hours Of the Morning", while Ray Noble's "The Touch Of Your Lips" was never so well served, either before or since. Most of the pieces are taken either as slow ballads or at an easy, mid-tempo lope, the one exception being "Sunday", which swings out with a will. Oscar Peterson is so celebrated as a virtuoso pianist that his virtues as an accompanist are rarely noticed, but he is one of the most supportive partners any soloist could desire. Along with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, his regular bass-and-drums team of the time, he provides the perfect setting for Webster. Altogether, this is a golden set from a golden era. --Dave Gelly
Caught In The Web., 2010-02-04
A great album to sit back and relax to - if that's what your hoping for. Recorded late in 1959, this is the fourth collaboration between the two legends. The quartet consists of Webster on tenor sax, Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums; all combining to create that smoky club atmosphere. It is Ben Webster's seductive playing that lends it that feeling, the timbre of his sax is incredibly tender and sophisticated. Leisurely making his way through luscious tracks like: When Your Lover Has Gone, and, In The Wee, Small Hours Of The Morning. Not forgetting the rest of the ensemble (or tracks), all of which add to the silkiness that runs through the album.
The album is generally made up of slower pieces, exceptions being: Sunday, and This Cant Be Love. Other songs include: The Touch Of Your Lips, Bye-bye Blackbird, and, How Deep Is The Ocean. So do your ears a favour, indulge in the sonority of Webster's sax.

Artist: Oscar Peterson Trio

This 1962 recording represents Oscar Peterson at his most commercially accommodating, yet his trio with Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen never fails to swing. The program includes such familiar melodies as the title track (which began life as Duke Ellington's "Happy Go Lucky Local"), "Georgia on My Mind", and "The Honey Dripper". With the notable exception of the gospel-like original "Hymn to Freedom", most of the tracks clock in at around three minutes. This reissue contains several alternate takes that were wisely left off the original LP, including such unlikely jazz vehicles as "Volare" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". --Rick Mitchell
DON'T HESITATE!, 2009-08-30
This is an excellent CD. Absolutely nothing to fault about it. Buy it! Perfect for both dinner party background music or for focused listening to appreciate the musicianship and subtlety of playing.

Artist: Lester Young, The Oscar Peterson Trio

pres and oscar - a combination made in Granz's heaven, 2009-11-05
Norman Granz made a habit of putting unlikely combinations of artists together. He often used Peterson in his early JATP days as almost the "house" rhythm section. This is one of those collaborations and it works perfectly with Young flitting in that transitory mainstream to post bop style that is almost impossible to categorise. He is lyrical where appropriate, powerful where appropriate, and always bluesy. A delightful "I can't get started", a super "On the sunny side of the street" where he breathes new life into the hackneyed old warhorse and a number of other class performances. Peterson is superb throughout, this is full of great melodies and blowing - and a slightly vulgar "Tea for Two" in which we have that unique event - Pres singing!! go buy

Artist: Lionel Hampton, Oscar Peterson

Artist: Oscar Peterson

The two Songbook series (1952-4 & 1959) represented in Oscar Peterson Plays The Gershwin Songbook were not just major enterprises but badly misunderstood ones. Even critics sympathetic to the pianist have bemoaned the brevity of the tracks and consequent thinness of improvisation; that is fundamentally to ignore Oscar's overriding purpose, which was to focus on the composers' art, not his own. So forget about OP the concert virtuoso and wallow instead in two dozen immaculately intelligent tributes to an incomparable talent, incorporating a succession of arrangements that commemorate the imagination and depth of Peterson's musical brain. If wishing to sample, go for the 1959 "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off", a miniature masterpiece distinguished for its wit, exquisite touch and infallible pulse. But don't hang about: the 1952 album appeared (briefly) on vinyl in the mid 1980s, while its 1959 companion has been unavailable for well over a generation. --Richard Palmer
Definitive Gershwin by Oscar Peterson..., 2009-08-08
The 2 albums on this disc were recorded in 1959 and 1952 and both feature Ray Brown on bass. The first 12 tracks have Ed Thigpen on drums and the second 12 have Barney Kessel on guitar.

Gershwin was a great choice for Oscar Peterson to interpret and song after song gets a definitive treatment. It is so good to have these 2 albums on a single CD as 24 of the greatest make it a real steal and a collectors bag. Crisp sound overall. Search this one out and snap it up!

Artist: Oscar Peterson

Peterson plays Cole Porter, 2009-03-26
When I first looked at this CD in the store I didn't listen to any audio preview, I was sure it was a great album. My opinion was confirmed the first time I listened to it, the album opens with a superb performance of the famous "In the still of the night" and lets you start this wonderful journey. I suggest you to purchase this amazing CD and listen to 45 mins of good music!

Artist: Oscar Peterson

Great Memories of a great jazz musician and pianist, 2010-03-25
Although I have many Oscar Peterson LP's from the 70's and 80's covering his work both as a featured artist and accompanist I realized having listened to the sample tracks I don't have a single CD. I have taped compilations I used to play in the car - really relaxing on a long journey. I will therefore be buying this and probably will make a contribution to the statue that is proposed in Ottawa.