Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. At Long Last Love
2. Easy Walker
3. Tin Tin Deo
4. I've Got a Crush on You
5. Foggy Day
6. Like Someone in Love
7. On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
8. I'm in the Mood for Love
9. Girl Talk

Disc 2:

1. Robbins Nest
2. Medley: I Concentrate on You/Moon River
3. Medley: Waltzing Is Hip/Satin Doll
4. Love Is Here to Stay
5. Sandy's Blues
6. Alice in Wonderland
7. Noreen's Nocturne
8. In a Mellow Tone
9. Nica's Dream

Disc 3:

1. On Green Dolphin Street
2. Summertime
3. Sometimes I'm Happy
4. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
5. Travelin' On
6. Emily
7. Quiet Nights
8. Sax No End
9. When Lights Are Low

Disc 4:

1. Someone to Watch over Me
2. Perdido
3. Body and Soul
4. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
5. Bye Bye Blackbird
6. I Should Care
7. Lulu's Back in Town
8. Little Girl Blue
9. Take the "A" Train

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14189 in Music
• Released on: 1992-11-17
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .46 pounds

Amazon.com
These four discs collect the material on six long plays of trios and solos that Oscar Peterson recorded in Villingen, Germany, between 1963 and 1968. On standards galore, Peterson never lets up in his rigorous, swinging approach. He is at his prime on these recordings, as he himself noted later. The improvisations range from extraordinary to awe-inspiring. The lyricism of Nat King Cole is in there, along with Art Tatum-esque rococoisms and Bud Powell-like attack. Which partners best complemented Peterson's girth, and bowed to it least, is always in dispute. On six tracks here, Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen lay claim against the earlier Brown-Herb Ellis unit. The set comes with a 32-page booklet containing black-and-white historical and original-cover photographs, and a detailed discography. --Peter Monaghan

Customer Reviews

Prime Peterson
This four CD box set stands as the true benchmark of Oscar Petersons mammoth recording ouput. The recordings were made privately before select audiences from 1963 through until 1968. All of the selections feature Peterson in a trio with the likes of Ray Brown, Sam Jones and Ed Thigpen in support.

The material represented here consists almost entirely of jazz standards with just two Peterson originals. Peterson's playing is varied from agressive uptempo romps (Eg. "Travellin' On") to more subdued ballads (Eg. "Emily"). The music on this set is very enjoyable and does not become at all repetative in nature. The recording quality is of a good standard and consistant throughout the set.

Overall, I would highly recommend this set to any jazz listener. Peterson's technique is absolutely flawless and swings hard with the bass-drum support (Take "Tin Tin Deo" for example! ). The music documented here is quite simply essential and should form part of any representative jazz collection.

CONSUMMATE PERFORMANCES FROM THE GREAT MASTER
If your a Peterson fan,this is the 'loin cut'.In this well-rounded collection,there are two trio formats, including the high calibre playing of SAM JONES and RAY BROWN,BOBBY DURHAM,ED THIGPEN,AND LOUIS HAYES on bass and drums respectively. All provide exceptional support throughout this collection.And in addition,Peterson presents us with a beautiful set of solo piano pieces which could well be considered the 'companion' to his other brilliant solo recording,'TRACKS'.This comes very highly reccommended, as it represents the quintessential example of piano performances in the trio and solo platforms at the very highest level from one of the greatest legends of the piano in modern jazz history. Highlights for me were 'AT LAST LONG LOVE',and'TIN TIN DEO',which are great examples of how much can be done in the 'trio platform'with good arranging,and gorgeous solo interpretations of 'I SHOULD CARE','WHO CAN I TURN TO', and 'BODY AND SOUL'.On all three Oscar starts in a rubato format,where he lays down those 'fat' sonorities which only the largest of hands can pull off,those lush and dense voicings,the prototypic signature voice of Oscar Peterson.Then some more reflective pieces'LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE',and,'I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE'(an exhaustive study of the possibilites in the approach to the re-harmonization of chords,especially in the alteration of dominant functions),'LITTLE GIRL BLUE'for it's plaintive and recflective aura,as it floats away on Debussy/Ravel-like harmonic textures.'BYE BYE BLACKBIRD',in which Oscar provides us with a virtual masterclass in the art of 'block-chord' playing.And finally,'LULU'S BACK IN TOWN',a great example of genuine stride-piano.Peterson 'digs' right through this one. EXCLUSIVELY FOR MY FRIENDS is a marvellous collection you can return to again and again over the years for your listening pleasure.The whole package is a real treat!Enjoy.Health and Happiness.

Best Peterson, Period!

When Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer decided to record and produce Oscar Peterson on several albums in the 1960s, Peterson was given free reign to play the way he wanted to play. Brunner-Schwer (the founder of Polygram Records) managed to record what are arguably Peterson's finest recordings.

Peterson plays a hybrid of swing, bop, and rag on these exquisite recordings. With a combination of Art Tatumish ornamentations, block chord improvisations, and orchestral highs and lows, Peterson managed to be subtle and showy without ever compromising his musicianship or insulting the intelligence of listeners.

There are almost too many highlights to mention in these recordings. Yet a few stand out. Peterson glistens and swings on Gershwin & Gershwin's "SUMMERTIME". His brooding and lengthy interpretation of McHugh & Fields' "I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE" is without comparison and is perhaps the definitive Jazz piano interpretation. He displays his perfection at dynamics with the Benny Carter chestnut "WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW" which begins with solo piano, merges into a slow soft-shoe trio, then builds to a blues-drenched crescendo. This compilation features a diverse array of standards as well as Peterson's own compositions "SANDY'S BLUES" and "NOREEN'S NOCTURNE". Disc Four grants the listener the treat of Peterson playing solo piano.

No serious Peterson fan can afford to not own his recordings from this period. No serious Jazz fan will find a more coherent and listenable compilation. The Non-Jazz fan will be converted. Worth every penny!!