The Essential Oscar Peterson: The Swinger

Oscar Peterson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 3, 1992)
• Original Release Date: November 3, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001E05
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,879 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Jazz Pianist that Ever Lived, August 31, 2009

By 

Carl Armstrong - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Oscar Peterson: The Swinger (Audio CD)

Oscar Peterson is the Vladimir Horowitz of the jazz world.When he was young, his father wanted him to finish school, but Oscar insisted that he wanted to be a professional jazz pianist. His father said the only way he would allow Oscar to quite school would be if he became the very best.He then took his son to hear Art Tatum.Oscar was discovered by Norman Granz who was in a cab in Canada heading for the airport. The cab driver had the radio on and Granz said "Who is that pianist?" The cab driver said it was Oscar Peterson live at a nightclub. Granz said "forget the airport. I have to meet him,"On this CD is the immortal rendition of "Tenderly" that Oscar first played when he made his American debut in Carnegie Hall on September 16, 1950 in Norman Granz immortal series entitled "Jazz at the Philharmonic". It is the very greatest jazz piano arrangement of all time as well as many other tracks which are in a class all by themselves on the superb CD. A true collectors item.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Essential album for Oscar Peterson fans, August 3, 2010

By 

T. Wagenknecht (S. California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Oscar Peterson: The Swinger (Audio CD)

When this album came out, Oscar had not as of yet been debilitated by the stroke that would sideline him for a while, but not bring him down. This album takes us on a wonderful journey that is the Oscar Peterson jazz group. The one song which stands heads and shoulders above the rest is track 8 - Tenderly. It is here that we are introduced to the man himself, his quirky way of singing along with his playing, and the interaction of the group backing him. The fact that there are extraneous noise from the audience makes it that much more enjoyable. On can only imagine what it must have been like there in Carnegie Hall on that lovely September day in 1949. Norman Granz sure found a diamond, and throughout the years this diamond shined and sparkled more than the rest. This album has an infectious quality to it. Much more than an assemblage of greatest hits, this album is the coalescence of some of the many great tunes that were recorded over the years. One has to laugh, when at the very end of track 111, Seven Come Eleven you here either Barney Kessel or Ray Brown ask "That's it?". No that is not at all it. There is much more that can be grasped from this album, and if this is the only one you have in the collection, then you can start to grasp what was the greatness that was Oscar Peterson.

4 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Skilful but lacking cohesion, October 18, 2002

By 

M. Packham "Stuart" (Perth, Western Australia Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Oscar Peterson: The Swinger (Audio CD)

There's no doubt about it that Oscar Peterson, with the exception of Art Tatum perhaps, is one of the great technicians of jazz. His timing, octave stretches, improvised solos and key changes are truly a thing to behold. The man plays with the velocity and control of a concert pianist - in fact it's been said that some of the stuff Peterson played put classical pianists to shame.

Nevertheless, in this collection of songs, Peterson consistently seems to forget the key ingredient: melody. Peterson is literally all over the place and is too fast for his own good, constantly jumping all over the keyboard with both his left and right hands. This tends to get boring and sometimes even fairly tedious.

In terms of listening pleasure, this isn't the best jazz album available. Dave Brubeck is a much better bet if it's melody you're after.

Looking over this review, the word 'technician' seems perfectly apt for Oscar Peterson.