Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b)

Tracklisting:

01. The Lady Is The Tramp (Rodgers-Hart) (4:49)
02. We’ll Be Together Again (Fischer-Laine) (2:34)
03. Bluesology (Milt Jackson) (9:23)
04. Budo [A.k.a. “Hallucinations”] (Bud Powell) (4:38)
05. I’ve Got The World On A String (Arlen-Koehler) (6:41)
06. Daahoud (Clifford Brown) (7:00)
07. When Lights Are Low (Benny Carter) (4:13)
08. Evrev (Oscar Peterson) (4:47)
09. Should I (Freed-Wrong) (5:16)
10. Big Fat Mama (Millinder-Simon) (7:34)
11. Back Home Again in Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) (4:07)
12. Joy Spring (Clifford Brown) (5:33)
13. Elevation (Mulligan-Lawrence) (3:25)

Total time: 69:42 min.

Tracks #1-8 originally issued on LP as "The Oscar Peterson Trio Live At The Concertgebouw" (Verve MGV 8268).

Tracks #9-13 from "The Modern Jazz Quartet and The Oscar Peterson Trio At The Opera House" (Verve MGV 8269).

The Oscar Peterson Trio:
Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b).

Recording dates:
Tracks #1-8 September 29, 1957 at the Civic Opera House, Chicago.
Tracks #9-13 October 9, 1957 at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles.

This superb CD contains two Oscar Peterson Trio concerts taped during J.A.T.P.’s last American tour in 1957. Interestingly, these two sets were not, in fact, recorded as indicated in their original LP releases. The first was issued as “The Oscar Peterson Trio Live At the Concertgebouw” —the famous concert hall in Amsterdam— but was recorded at the Opera House in Chicago.

The second comes from a concert at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and not —as it was originally claimed— at the Opera House in Chicago. Details about the location aside, the quality of the music is undeniable, and the new mastering offers the best sound available today -the sound that Peterson-Ellis-Brown made so familiar and exciting. The rapport between the three men is outstanding, the swing devastating and the results fantastic!


Notes:

"Although the music on this CD was originally said to be recorded in Europe, it actually comes from a Chicago concert, and the five additional selections (last issued on an LP shared with the Modern Jazz Quartet), supposedly performed in Chicago, are from an appearance in Los Angeles. But despite the geographical mixups, the music is consistently brilliant and often wondrous. The trio of Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown had been together for over four years, and these would be among the threesome's last (and finest) recordings. The very tricky arrangements sandwiched remarkable solos, with pianist Peterson sounding especially inspired. Together with the Stratford Shakespearean CD of the previous year, this set features the trio at the peak of its powers. Highlights include "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Budo," "Daahoud," "Indiana," and "Joy Spring."

Scott Yanow -All Music Guide