"lady Oscar"

This LP comprises the Oscar Peterson Trio's interpretations of a very well-known score, My Fair Lady. The performances of the seven songs (at least three of which are now considered standards) is the one recording done by Peterson and bassist Ray Brown with drummer Gene Gammage, a transitional member of the Trio between the long stints with guitarist Herb Ellis and drummer Ed Thigpen. Overall the music is consistently enjoyable.

This LP comprises the Oscar Peterson Trio's interpretations of a very well-known score, My Fair Lady. The performances of the seven songs (at least three of which are now considered standards) is the one recording done by Peterson and bassist Ray Brown with drummer Gene Gammage, a transitional member of the Trio between the long stints with guitarist Herb Ellis and drummer Ed Thigpen. Overall the music is consistently enjoyable.

This LP comprises the Oscar Peterson Trio's interpretations of a very well-known score, My Fair Lady. The performances of the seven songs (at least three of which are now considered standards) is the one recording done by Peterson and bassist Ray Brown with drummer Gene Gammage, a transitional member of the Trio between the long stints with guitarist Herb Ellis and drummer Ed Thigpen. Overall the music is consistently enjoyable.

In what was a giant undertaking (even for producer Norman Granz), pianist Oscar Peterson recorded ten Songbook albums during 1952-1954 and when his trio changed, nine more in 1959. Both of his George Gershwin projects (one from 1952 and the other from 1959) have been reissued in full on this single CD. The earlier date matches the brilliant Peterson with guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Ray Brown, while the 1959 session has Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. The Songbook series found Peterson playing concise (around three-minute) versions of tunes, and he always kept the melody in the forefront. The results are not innovative or unique, but they are tasteful and reasonably enjoyable. Since five of the songs are played by both groups, a comparison between the two units is interesting.

There are at least five Oscar Petersons on display on this comprehensive box set representing his work with the legendary Norman Granz and celebrating his 80th birthday on Aug. 15th, 2005. CDs 1-5 feature Oscars' work interpreting the Great American Songbook where he and Granz "tried to draw more people into jazz." CD 6 contains his first session with Granz as he accompanies Billie Holiday on 16 sides that show his talent as an accompanist. CDs 7-8 capture Oscars' collaboration with 4 tenor sax men: Lester Young, Ben Webster, Stan Getz and Dizzy Gillespie, plus a rare session with Flip Phillips. CDs 9-10 feature the entire 1954 issue from the Jazz At The Philharmonic, including Oscar playing with Lester Young, Bill Harris and Ray Brown.

Although the music here was originally said to be recorded in Europe, it actually comes from a Chicago concert, and the five additional selections were supposedly performed in Chicago, but are from an appearance in Los Angeles. 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 Trio at Stratford Shakespearean LP of the previous year, this set features the trio at the peak of its powers. Highlights include "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Budo," and "Daahoud."

This set contains three of the 1951/52 and 1959 songbooks Peterson recorded for Norman Granz. The 1951 tracks feature Peterson on piano, accompanied by Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Brown on bass. The first disc in this set is the Cole Porter songbook. The 1951 tracks were recorded for the Mercury label and stretched out over three sessions in Los Angeles in November 1951, and February and December 1952. The 1959 tracks were recorded in a marathon session for Verve at the Universal Recording studio in Chicago between July 14 and August 9, 1959. Disc Two is the Ellington songbook that was recorded in Los Angeles for Mercury in December 1952 and Verve during the Chicago session. Disc Three is the Gershwin songbook that was recorded during the same time frames and locations as the Ellington one.

This 1959 album is the second of Oscar Petersons two 50's Duke Ellington Songbook recordings and the first one in stereo. On this album the line-up is Oscar Peterson (Piano), Ray Brown (Double Bass) and Ed Thigpen (Drums). The first Ellington songbook album by Peterson and his trio, the 1952 album Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington was a mono recording. Both albums were digitally remastered and compiled on one CD for the Verve Master Edition re-release series in 1999.