OSCAR PETERSON TRIO - The Complete Jerome Kern Song Books
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55701
Oscar Peterson Plays the Jerome Kern Song Books
Tracks 1 to 12
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Ed Thigpen ( drs )
Recorded Chicago21 July & 1August 1959
Oscar Peterson Plays Jerome Kern
Tracks 13 to 25
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Barney Kessel ( gtr ) Ray Brown ( bass )
Recorded Los Angeles, December 1962 & December 1953
Bonus tracks 26 to 27
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass )
Recorded New York, March 1950
It was an inspired idea that prompted Essential Jazz Classics to combine the two versions of the Oscar
Peterson Songbooks on one album, we already have the Gershwin Songbook which ws reviewed on Jazz Views and now we have the Jerome Kern.
Anybody who believes these are just versions of Kern songs that have been tossed off as jazzed up versions by Peterson that would appeal to a wider audience would be wrong or misinformed, each song is treated with the appropriate care.
The later version of the trio is first up and there is a good balance between hard swingers and beautiful ballads. This trio was a yardstick for other trios of this nature to set themselves against, with Ed Thigpen’s crisp drumming and Ray Brown’s rock solid bass lines Oscar Peterson was free to put his ideas into practice.
“I Won’t Dance” is a real swinger and although a short track it sets the tone of the album, by comparison the second number “Bill” is given a beautiful ballad treatment.
“A Fine Romance is a short version of a slow burner with the pianist using the chords to give the listener an understanding of the structure of the song by contrast “Ol’ Man River” is treated as a hard swinger.
Oscar Peterson brings out the full beauty of the Kern composition “Lovely To Look At” and “Long Ago and Far Away” which brings Jerome Kern’s genius into focus. Although all the tracks are of a short length ther is much to marvel at because the trio is such a marvellous instrument and is sadly missed.
The earlier tracks with Barney Kessel on guitar is a complete change of approach by necessity but in its way just as interesting.
An earlier set of recordings from another company lists the guitar as Herb Ellis just listen to the first
Track confirms it is Barney Kessel but Herb Ellis is certainly the guitarist on most of the earlier Songbook tracks.
All the tracks differ I some wy to the later versions, “Bill” is treated as a lightly swinging piece rather than a ballad. On this earlier recording Oscar Peterson makes more use of single note runs
Even without a drummer the group can build up a nice head of steam such as “A Fine Romance” and other numbers.
The two bonus tracks with just Ray Brown were some of Oscar Peterson’s recordings in the USA and even at this stage he possessed a formidable technique and deserve their place on this issue.
This is a most welcome release and we can only hope for more of the same.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55701
Oscar Peterson Plays the Jerome Kern Song Books
Tracks 1 to 12
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass ) Ed Thigpen ( drs )
Recorded Chicago21 July & 1August 1959
Oscar Peterson Plays Jerome Kern
Tracks 13 to 25
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Barney Kessel ( gtr ) Ray Brown ( bass )
Recorded Los Angeles, December 1962 & December 1953
Bonus tracks 26 to 27
Oscar Peterson ( pno ) Ray Brown ( bass )
Recorded New York, March 1950
It was an inspired idea that prompted Essential Jazz Classics to combine the two versions of the Oscar
Peterson Songbooks on one album, we already have the Gershwin Songbook which ws reviewed on Jazz Views and now we have the Jerome Kern.
Anybody who believes these are just versions of Kern songs that have been tossed off as jazzed up versions by Peterson that would appeal to a wider audience would be wrong or misinformed, each song is treated with the appropriate care.
The later version of the trio is first up and there is a good balance between hard swingers and beautiful ballads. This trio was a yardstick for other trios of this nature to set themselves against, with Ed Thigpen’s crisp drumming and Ray Brown’s rock solid bass lines Oscar Peterson was free to put his ideas into practice.
“I Won’t Dance” is a real swinger and although a short track it sets the tone of the album, by comparison the second number “Bill” is given a beautiful ballad treatment.
“A Fine Romance is a short version of a slow burner with the pianist using the chords to give the listener an understanding of the structure of the song by contrast “Ol’ Man River” is treated as a hard swinger.
Oscar Peterson brings out the full beauty of the Kern composition “Lovely To Look At” and “Long Ago and Far Away” which brings Jerome Kern’s genius into focus. Although all the tracks are of a short length ther is much to marvel at because the trio is such a marvellous instrument and is sadly missed.
The earlier tracks with Barney Kessel on guitar is a complete change of approach by necessity but in its way just as interesting.
An earlier set of recordings from another company lists the guitar as Herb Ellis just listen to the first
Track confirms it is Barney Kessel but Herb Ellis is certainly the guitarist on most of the earlier Songbook tracks.
All the tracks differ I some wy to the later versions, “Bill” is treated as a lightly swinging piece rather than a ballad. On this earlier recording Oscar Peterson makes more use of single note runs
Even without a drummer the group can build up a nice head of steam such as “A Fine Romance” and other numbers.
The two bonus tracks with just Ray Brown were some of Oscar Peterson’s recordings in the USA and even at this stage he possessed a formidable technique and deserve their place on this issue.
This is a most welcome release and we can only hope for more of the same.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
