Oscar Peterson learned piano from his father, beginning a career in which he became world famous for his strong technique and powerful sense of swing. He is best known for the trios he put together in the 1950s and 1960s. On this album The Peterson Trio shows why it ranks with some of the best small groups in jazz.

Track Listing

1. Tricrotism [Original Tractitsm]
2. On Green Dolphin Street
3. Thag's Dance
4. Ill Wind
5. Kadota's Blues
6. Scrapple from the Apple
7. Jim
8. Band Call
9. Night We Called It a Day
10. Billy Boy

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76780 in Music
• Released on: 2000-02-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Extra tracks, Live, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Amazon.com
Oscar Peterson's trio with Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums were frequent visitors to Chicago's London House in the early Sixties, and the restaurant provides a comfortable setting for these live recordings from 1961. It's a tight-knit band, thoroughly rehearsed but also quick to respond to one another's inspirations. The closeness shows on these often extended performances, with Thigpen's bright drumming a clear inspiration to Peterson. His hard-driving improvisations push Oscar Pettiford's boppish "Tricrotism" and his own "Kadota's Blues" past the 11-minute mark. Brown has always been Peterson's closest musical partner, his springy rhythm and melodic fluency perfect complements to the pianist's explosive technique, and these tunes provide plenty of solo space for the bassist, as well. The five additional tracks include a sprightly take on "Scrapple from the Apple" and a version of Duke Ellington's "Band Call" that has big-band power. --Stuart Broomer

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Customer Reviews

The best...
Definately the best live recording of a jazz trio. The best verion/performance/recording of "On Green Dolphin Street." Thigpen's drumming is superb, Ray Brown's Bass is equal. But the SOUND QUALITY of this CD is unparrelled.

Excellent
I was listening to Oscar on an interview. He said that this was one of his favorite albums. It's great music. They seem to be serving dinner in the restaurant as there is some clanking of dishes, and be prepared to hear some humming - Oscar sang along as he created his masterpieces.

Oscar unleashed - for better or worse
I thoroughly enjoy Oscar Peterson's playing in certain contexts. He is a very respectful collaborator -- backing up Fred Astaire on the Astaire Story album, or sharing the stage with Milt Jackson on the Very Tall sessions. Oscar is more enjoyable to these ears when he holds back a bit.

Here, in a live trio club date, Oscar is unbound, unleashed. What that means most of the time is unending flurries of notes. They are very well-played notes, mind you, but to me it gets a little tedious compared to a soloist like Ahmad Jamal or Miles on Blue In Green, where space is given its due, and improvised lines are heard without as much baroque ornamentation. This is a matter of taste, and you may prefer the excitement of Oscar's full-on "never let 'em catch their breath" approach in this classic trio record. I only want to describe the sound of this album to help customers know what they're getting. This is not an album like Night Train. Oscar stretches out, plays with greater intensity and less melodicism, and the songs are longer, so this can lead to a bit more rambling in the solos.

To be fair, Oscar does slow down on more melodic pieces like Jim. And I like a lot of his inventions in On Green Dolphin Street, though his opening and closing on that tune is grandiose -- it's a bit much. Billy Boy closes out the album, short and sweet.

It's likely that some jazz fans are able to decipher Oscar's quick runs better than I, and will derive much more enjoyment. In building my collection, I am going to try to focus on the albums where Oscar's lyricism is uppermost. Therefore, I will not be buying this. Again, it may be perfect for you.