Customer Reviews

Live at the Blue Note

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Live performance adds a dimension to jazz recordings typically missing in the studio, where there's not the influence of the appreciative audience shaping the music and the interplay between artists. Add to that the exquisite precision of first-class recording techniques, and you get a breath-taking album such as this one - a 4-CD set, with over 4 and a half hours of music that is simply wonderful.

This is the "legendary" Oscar Peterson Trio of the 1950s (plus drummer Bobby Durham), reunited in 1990 for the first time since guitarist Herb Ellis left the group in 1958. The recording was made during the final three days of a two-week run at New York's Blue Note, following a similar gig in Japan. They are in prime form, and if jazz historian Alyn Shipton's notes are any indication, their performance is less "combative" than the 1950s group and more the gracefully elegant play of gentle giants.

The program is a fine mix of rousing, upbeat numbers and sweet ballads, including both original compositions and old standards. All were released earlier and at a time when Telarc was establishing its jazz catalog after years in the forefront as a classical label. The boxed set includes a 12-page booklet with an informative essay by Shipton recounting the emergence of Oscar Peterson as a Canadian pianist invited to play at Carnegie Hall, the formation of the trio, its evolution over the years, plus a song-by-song appreciation of the whole program.

There are 28 songs in the set, ten of them running longer than 10 minutes, allowing for generous helpings of musical ideas that build in excitement or explore the intricacies of their moods, meanwhile showcasing the creative ingenuity of each member of the group. If you like Oscar Peterson, you'll love the reissue of these wonderful recordings.

I can't say too much about this set as I just got it a few days ago. However, I have listened to it all at least once (the first disc--a few times). First of all, I wanted to say that this is a super well put together box. It's not one of those four big jewel cases with a cheapo box around it deals. This is high quality box set style stuff (at a great price): an outer box, and inner fold out box with four well made slim jewel half cases that are really easy to work with (whoever made this must not know that box sets are supposed to be very hard to deal with, and they should cause cardbord scraches or glue marks on the discs-I guess this guy is new, he'll learn).
The music on this set is some of the best OP I have ever heard (the three times the money Pablo four disc set is junk campared to this--that's not news, it has been rather poorly reviewed for a while). I have never seen as many ballads by Peterson in so small a space as this three days Live At The Blue Note-ever. I may be a poor review for Peterson, because I have always liked his slower tunes to the Art Tatum speed stuff he can do--and I know he does it really well, but to hear as many slow tunes as we hear on this collection was a nice bonus for me.
Of course, all the music here is on four discs that Telarc has releast over the course of a few years, but this box is so well made, and it takes so little real-estate to house it in your music library, I can only see giving this five stars. And, being a Telarc release, you know the sound quality is close to audiophile (and I THINK all Telarc discs are DDD. This set is live DDD, so don't worry about this sounding like Charlie Parker's "Rocker" date. This is first class all the way.

If you are a Peterson fan, simply click on "Buy" and enjoy some unrivalled performances by Peterson and his most trusted allies. If you are new to the Oscar Peterson phenomenon, read on. Oscar Peterson, perhaps jazz's technially most gifted pianist, had been extremely successful for more than four decades when he undertook it to record his most celebrated group live in the unrivalled setting of New York's foremost jazz club, the Blue Note. Shortly after he made these records, Peterson suffered a stroke that limited the use of his left hand. He has made several outstanding rcords since, but on them he only played better than most other jazz pianists. On the Blue Note records, he played better than ALL of them. Everything people marvel about when talking about Peterson can be found here - Peterson's absolute mastery of the piano, his own, intriguing compositions (most of the tunes are his, and I personally favour his moving "Nighttime"), some deeply felt blues pieces ("Bach's Blues"), some gentle swing tunes ("Let There Be Love"), and some surprising interpretations of standards ("Here's That Rainy Day"). His support is superlative. Ray Brown, who is now deceased, was for many, many year's jazz's no. 1 bassist. In a well-rehearsed union with guitarist Herb Ellis, his musicality was a major contribution to the success of a trio that achieved legendary status within only a few short years. Thus, these records turned out to be the summary of the career of one of the foremost jazz pianists of the 20th century. So, if you are interested in the art of the jazz piano, you do not need to look any further. Here's everything. Listen and enjoy.

This box set reunites the Oscar Peterson Trio from the 50's, with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown, and also includes Bobby Durham, another OP3 alumnus from the 60's, on drums. The music on this was originally released as 4 separate CDs from 1990-92. These guys are absolutely fantastic. This is my all-time favorite grouping. The playing is much more laid back than their stuff from the 50's but they still swing like crazy, and swinging is what it's all about. This is one group I'd love to see live. You really get the live feel of it from this set though. I also recommend this group's other live sets from the 50's, OP Trio @ Zardi's, @ the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, @ the Concertgebuow, and On the Town. These are especially fiery and the playing on these is incredible. The piano trio with bass and guitar is my favorite group setting just like Nat King Cole's and this incarnation of the Oscar Peterson Trio is unparalleled. Enjoy this set. My only disappointment is that although the liner notes are quite good in the booklet it would've been nice to have some pictures from the shows.

I am very happy that I purchased this box-set. It is rare to find exceptional audio engineering and exceptional performance in one package. There are no weaknesses here. Oscar Peterson's talent and virtuosity really comes through - he is agile, fast and furious and he has incredible sensitivity. Listening to him - one just goes for a joy ride with the rest of the group Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Bobby Durham - it all comes together. These live performances at the Blue Note are recorded with great skill - the transparency, detail and the dynamics are captured with very low floor-noise. Oscar Peterson really makes the grand piano breathe which again has been miked with great skill. The recording shows a 3-D soundstage with ambiance which BTW is not overdone. The emphasis is on the instruments and the listener has front-row seating. This is the best recording I have heard from Telarc and they deserve as much credit as the performers - making this product available to jazz fans everywhere.

These are great recordings. Currently the last available before Oscar had a stroke, which has since restricted his left hand to very minimal use. Repeated listens to these sets lead me to think that his wonderful technique was a few percentage points down on what it was in the 50's 60's or 70's. However that is virtually irrelevant as 98% Oscar Peterson is still superior to most others. This is an essential late Peterson recording for completists. It would also serve as a fine starter pack for the newcomer to the great man.

Oscar Peterson died on my birthday last year. Earlier that day my wife gave me his DVD of his Berlin concert. I wish I would have found him sooner and could have seen him live.

This year she gave me this set and it is doing overtime in my CD player. I am a novice when it comes to reviewing music I just know that I love this mans style and music. The other reviews on this page from folks with a better understanding of music can explain it better than me.

Do yourself a favor and read the reviews, listen to the sound clips, and then buy this set. You will not be sorry.

This four-disc box set captures some exquisite live jazz performances featuring the still spry Oscar Peterson, stalwart bassist Ray Brown, guitarist Herb Ellis and drummer Bobby Durham. The music is taken from gigs recorded live at the Blue Note March 16-18, in 1990.

All the musicians sound great and the recorded sound is excellent. The only criticism I have of this set has to do with the packaging. Some genius at Telarc decided to lock the CD's in their holders using some new design that makes it insanely difficult to remove the discs. It took me fifteen minutes at least and it was miraculous I didn't break them in the process. The new design is like a medieval torture device. Don't let it stop you from buying the set, but be aware of it and use caution in getting the discs out. No one who spends $35 on a box set should have to go through this.

All four of these CDs are, in my opinion, the best I ever heard by this outstanding trio. And I also believe that this trio, with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis, is the best with whom Oscar Peterson ever played.

If you have no Oscar Peterson music in your audio library, this CD set is the one to have; his playing is superb! The sound quality is the same, and with 4 CDs, you don't get tired of listening to the versatility of the music. I cannot say enough about this set. I think you will enjoy it; it makes a great gift for friends also. Too bad OP is not with us any longer.