ART TATUM & OSCAR PETERSON - Masters of Jazz Piano
Featuring ‘Rare Live’ Performances
By Art Tatum Solo, Art Tatum Trio
& Oscar Peterson Trio
Sounds of Yester Year DSOY2087
Tracks 1 to 4
Art Tatum Solo
Embers Restaurant 1952
Tracks 5 to 8
Art Tatum Trio
Café Society 1952
Everett Barksdale ( gtr ) Slam Stewart ( Bass )
Tracks 9 to 12
Oscar Peterson Trio
Newport Jazz Festival, Rhode Island, July 1959
Oscar Peterson had the greatest regard for the playing of Art Tatum and both pianist had many things in common one of them being an abundance of technique.
Art Tatum’s best work was usually as a solo pianist and there are four examples of him in a live location doing just that. His approach to “Honeysuckle Rose” is breathtaking, his reading of “Memories of you” is much more reflective with a quote from McDowell’s “To A Wild Rose”.
The other four tracks by Tatum are with the Trio which is probably the best he ever worked with particularly guitarist Everett Barksdale but Slam Stewarts humming can be a little over the top. The track “Tenderly” is the best of these with Trio hitting just the right groove.
The Oscar Peterson tracks are different in approach and in live situations Peterson has a tendency let his technique get the better of him and Clifford Brown’s “Daahoud” is taken at a tempo which utterly destroys the tune but “Close Your Eyes” is much better.
Peterson in later years to use his undoubted to use his technique in a much more rewarding way.Oscar Peterson was certainly a much better group pianist than Art Tatum and was able to fit his approach to the composition of the group and his backing to singers ws immaculate giving the support in a sympathetic manner.
The Tatum tracks are the far more interesting on this release and it is invaluable to have him playing in a live performance.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Featuring ‘Rare Live’ Performances
By Art Tatum Solo, Art Tatum Trio
& Oscar Peterson Trio
Sounds of Yester Year DSOY2087
Tracks 1 to 4
Art Tatum Solo
Embers Restaurant 1952
Tracks 5 to 8
Art Tatum Trio
Café Society 1952
Everett Barksdale ( gtr ) Slam Stewart ( Bass )
Tracks 9 to 12
Oscar Peterson Trio
Newport Jazz Festival, Rhode Island, July 1959
Oscar Peterson had the greatest regard for the playing of Art Tatum and both pianist had many things in common one of them being an abundance of technique.
Art Tatum’s best work was usually as a solo pianist and there are four examples of him in a live location doing just that. His approach to “Honeysuckle Rose” is breathtaking, his reading of “Memories of you” is much more reflective with a quote from McDowell’s “To A Wild Rose”.
The other four tracks by Tatum are with the Trio which is probably the best he ever worked with particularly guitarist Everett Barksdale but Slam Stewarts humming can be a little over the top. The track “Tenderly” is the best of these with Trio hitting just the right groove.
The Oscar Peterson tracks are different in approach and in live situations Peterson has a tendency let his technique get the better of him and Clifford Brown’s “Daahoud” is taken at a tempo which utterly destroys the tune but “Close Your Eyes” is much better.
Peterson in later years to use his undoubted to use his technique in a much more rewarding way.Oscar Peterson was certainly a much better group pianist than Art Tatum and was able to fit his approach to the composition of the group and his backing to singers ws immaculate giving the support in a sympathetic manner.
The Tatum tracks are the far more interesting on this release and it is invaluable to have him playing in a live performance.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
