Customer Reviews

Debut: The Clef/Mercury Duo Recordings 1949-1951

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These are first rate recordings and the sound is about as fresh as anything recorded this decade. I can't get over the fact that these are debut recordings of this giant of the keyboards that date back to 61 years ago. The ties to Art Tatum are very noticeable although Oscar definitely had his own style even at this time. The quality of the photographs and art work are a real plus. A lot of people took a lot of time in researching the dates and the many singles, extended play and long playing albums in which these selections were featured across three different record labels. Many is the time I have bought recordings only to find I already had them under another album name and even a different label.

The music itself is first rate, really displaying the vituosity of this artist. This is a collection any fan of Oscar's will enjoy and should you happen to be a new jazz fan, there couldn't be a better place to start than with this collection, especially if you dig great piano.

Oscar Peterson was acknowledged widely as possessing the best technical chops in jazz. He himself acknowledged his debt to Art Tatum and Bud Powell, who also had stunning technique. In these duo recordings Oscar really had to play with everything that he had - a duo is exposed by comparison even with a trio, and requires different skills to the larger ensemble. Every note that is played on these albums is worth preserving as these recordings have achieved. The booklet of photographs of the great pianist at the time of these recordings is a first-rate complement to the discs. It is a super addition to my collection of recorded music.
Gavin Franklin