• On this CD are two of the best albums pianist Oscar Peterson recorded. On ‘Swinging Brass with Oscar Peterson’ a fresh setting is added to the vitality of the trio work by the imaginative writing of versatile arranger Russ Garcia. In his work with Peterson, he managed to integrate the trio and the brass seamlessly at the highest level of playing.
• The interesting thing about ‘The Jazz Soul of Oscar Peterson’ - apart from the fact that Peterson gives a marvellous display of jazz piano - is that it illustrates very clearly the kind of stratagems a player like Peterson might resort to escape the tyranny of his own virtuosity. Given material like this, and backed by Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen, Peterson is bound to come up with something startling, which is exactly what he does. You can get no better than this.
• Personnel : (on ‘Swinging Brass’) : Oscar Peterson Trio & Russ Garcia Orchestra: Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b), Ed Thigpen (d), with John Audino, Buddy Childers, Stu Williamson, Ollie Mitchell (tp), Harry Betts, Dick Nash (tb), Ken Shroyer (btb), Bud Shank (as), Bill Holman, Bob Cooper (ts), Jay Corre (ts, bar), Russell Garcia (arrangements, conductor). Recorded at United Recorders, Hollywood, California, on November 5, 1959. On ‘The Jazz Soul Of Oscar Peterson’: Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b), Ed Thigpen (d). Recorded at Universal Recording Studio, Chicago, between July 21 and August 1, 1959. |
