OSCAR PETERSON - Plays the George Gershwin Songbook
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55666
Tracks 1 to 12
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Ed Thigpen ( drs )
Recorded Chicago, 21st July to 1st August 1959
Tracks 13 to 24
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Barney Kessel ( gtr ) Ray Brown ( bass )
Recorded Los Angeles, early December 1952
Track 25
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Ed Thigpen ( drs )
Recorded live at Amsterdam Concertgebouw, 10 April 1960
It would seem logical to issue the two versions of Oscar Peterson playing the George Gershwin Songbook together on one CD as it gives the listener the chance to compare the differing approach the trio makes with each tune
These recordings are often viewed by some as little more than easy listening recordings but careful listening can reveal that there is much more depth to the interpretations than a casual play may offer.
The earlier trio with Barney Kessel is possibly a little more adventurous but both versions contain much to hold the listener’s attention.
Take the later version of “The Man I Love” for example where it is treated as a ballad whereas the earlier trio’s approach is much more of a swinger. With all the tracks being under four minutes long these performances become little gems in their own right.
The earlier trio with Barney Kessel is often overlooked in favour of the later trion with guitarist Herb Ellis but there is much to admire in the earlier version.
“I’ve Got a Crush on You”, “I Was Doing All Right” and “Lady Be Good” are all given a lightly swinging treatment which brings out the best in the songs.
Not all the songs are duplicated by each trio and we therefore have a broader picture of Gerhwin’s output, “Shall We Dance” one of Gershwin’s lesser played songs is only tackled by the later trio but we are treated to a beautiful ballad version of the song.
There is a little surface noise and a number clicks on the earlier trio tracks which leads to sumise they taken from a not very good copy of the LP rather than the master takes but this does not detract too much from the quality of the music.
The final bonus track is taken from a completely different live session in Amsterdam and gives us a third version of “It Necessarily So” which gives us another approach to the song.
This is an interesting release and will please Oscar Peterson devotees who do not have these tracks and should be of interest to all piano lovers.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55666
Tracks 1 to 12
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Ed Thigpen ( drs )
Recorded Chicago, 21st July to 1st August 1959
Tracks 13 to 24
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Barney Kessel ( gtr ) Ray Brown ( bass )
Recorded Los Angeles, early December 1952
Track 25
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Ed Thigpen ( drs )
Recorded live at Amsterdam Concertgebouw, 10 April 1960
It would seem logical to issue the two versions of Oscar Peterson playing the George Gershwin Songbook together on one CD as it gives the listener the chance to compare the differing approach the trio makes with each tune
These recordings are often viewed by some as little more than easy listening recordings but careful listening can reveal that there is much more depth to the interpretations than a casual play may offer.
The earlier trio with Barney Kessel is possibly a little more adventurous but both versions contain much to hold the listener’s attention.
Take the later version of “The Man I Love” for example where it is treated as a ballad whereas the earlier trio’s approach is much more of a swinger. With all the tracks being under four minutes long these performances become little gems in their own right.
The earlier trio with Barney Kessel is often overlooked in favour of the later trion with guitarist Herb Ellis but there is much to admire in the earlier version.
“I’ve Got a Crush on You”, “I Was Doing All Right” and “Lady Be Good” are all given a lightly swinging treatment which brings out the best in the songs.
Not all the songs are duplicated by each trio and we therefore have a broader picture of Gerhwin’s output, “Shall We Dance” one of Gershwin’s lesser played songs is only tackled by the later trio but we are treated to a beautiful ballad version of the song.
There is a little surface noise and a number clicks on the earlier trio tracks which leads to sumise they taken from a not very good copy of the LP rather than the master takes but this does not detract too much from the quality of the music.
The final bonus track is taken from a completely different live session in Amsterdam and gives us a third version of “It Necessarily So” which gives us another approach to the song.
This is an interesting release and will please Oscar Peterson devotees who do not have these tracks and should be of interest to all piano lovers.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
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