Night Train [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Oscar Peterson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000047D4
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > World Music > North America > Canada
  • #12 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > General AAS
  • #12 in Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Swing General

Editorial Reviews

PETERSON OSCAR NIGHT TRAIN

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding and essential jazz piano, July 12, 2002

By 

Jon Warshawsky "Sinatra Guru" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Night Train (Audio CD)

Night Train is one of the best jazz piano albums I have yet to hear. Oscar Peterson is spellbinding -- both at breakneck and leisurely speeds -- and the ensemble is tight. Favorites here include Ellington's C-Jam Blues (only two notes!), The Honeydripper, Moten Swing, a definitive Band Call and of course a memorable rendition of the title track. I am a huge fan of Dave Brubeck, but one ride on the Night Train and it's obvious Peterson was something special. If you like exciting jazz piano -- this isn't background music -- Night Train is essential.

The bonus tracks? I don't like to complain about getting something for nothing, but it would not be hard to argue that the original album is a classic that needed no embellishment. Even with lesser songs, Peterson turns in a convincing performance and these pass muster. 'Now's the Time' is an amazing bit of keyboard athleticism -- a performance more worthy than the tune. 'This Could Be the Start of Something' is similarly a superior performance of a not-so-superior number.

The jury is still out on Verve's cardboard CD jackets. It looks nice but is destined to fall apart long before the CD fails. Perhaps Verve thought they were doing us a favor. Still a five-star album, but packaging is (a small) part of the equation.

46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the best, February 7, 2004

By 

Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Night Train (Audio CD)

Unlike many jazz piano lovers, I have never thought Oscar Peterson was showing off or playing too many notes, though I also love Count Basie, whose sparse playing goes in the opposite direction.

This album is wonderfully appealing and, could be a great place to start with Oscar if you aren't yet acquainted with his music.

I love every track [but only have the original CD], and appreciate the variety on the recording, from C Jam Blueswith its distinctive percussion and piano and double bass solos, to slow ballads like Hymn To Freedom and Things Ain't What They Used To Be through rollicking songs like Night Train and Moten Swing.
Another terrific album is Tracks, which is one of few solo recordings.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth, Cool, Sophisticated, May 2, 2000

By 

Ralph Quirino (Keswick, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Train (Audio CD)

Though some have accused Peterson of being a bit "dry", don't let that keep you away from this absolutely essential album. Very few trio sessions possess a charm so carefree yet romantic, so swingin' yet calm, so rich yet simplistic. This is superb music-making. I recommend it to jazz-haters without reserve: it'll make you change your mind. Peterson serves up warm, passionate performances while the back-up is both muted and solid. I had a first edition LP which I found at a yard sale, bought the CD when it was first released and am happy to own this remastered effort. The purpose of a great remastering/reissue job is to bring out all the nuances of a recording and this rerelease does that and lots more. No CD collection should be without this classic recording. Worth every one of the five stars I've accorded it...