Customer Reviews

Norman Granz Jazz in Montreux Presents Oscar Peterson Solo '75

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here in this DVD you can appreciate Oscar Peterson at his prime. The performance is just brillant and inspiring as always--jazz virtuoso piano as good as it gets indeed.

The camera captured his finger works at amazing pace and grace form different angles. The picture quality is not as sharp as Trio '77 DVD but you soon forget about it once the music starts. Both Trio '77 and Solo '75 are supreme performance but in solo'75 you really can see how good his left hand is compared to most other jazz pianists. By the way,the CD "Solo: Live" is another must have for all O.P fans as Oscar Peterson really plays when doing the one man show. This is also the only video footage I have seen so far including the Blues Etude--one of his early composition( in the last segment of the show but did not mentioned in the song title).

I am still waiting for the release of Oscar Peterson In Tokyo(1983)previously released by Pioneer Laser Disc. That will be the show to watch--with Joe Pass,Niels Pedersen and Martin Drew.
But berfore that, get both 1975 and 1977 show.

I just received the Oscar Peterson Trio '77 DVD which is part of the Norman Granz Jazz In Montreux series. I must admit at first I was skeptical about what I would be receiving for a price of under $10. Well, I am more than pleased with this excellent representation of Oscar during his prime years. The video starts with three solo selections by Oscar, a very neat arrangment of Falling in Love with Love (unlike recent recordings with the quartet), Old Folks and Indiana. The master of the ivory's is then joined by not one but two of the finest bass players around, Niels Pedersen and the late Ray Brown. Each take sections on the remaing six tracks along with Oscar's lightening fast playing.

If you are an Oscar fan you will appreicate the left hand work performed in stride fashion and the 32nd or perhaps 64h note playing by the right hand. There is no drummer on these recordings and with the amount of music generated by Oscar, Ray and Niels it's not missed.

I highly recommend this addtion to your OP collection.

Let me explain:
Oscar Peterson's performance = 10
Niels Pedersen's performance = 10
Ray Brown's performance = 10

So why only 3 stars and what the cause of the frustration?

Answer: The camera never focused the keyboard from above and only sometimes captured Oscar's hands, that is, it did not capture the best of the show.

Therefore, if you are interested only on the bassists performances this DVD is fine, but if you would like to view what Oscar Peterson does on the piano, this DVD is almost equivalent to listening the vynil album I have since many years ago.

Regrettable, my friends. The producers lost the opportunity to register Oscar Peterson (The Franz Liszt of the Jazz) at his best, something they can not correct. It is sad but it is impossible. If you had made a DVD of Franz Liszt would you only capture his face and not his hands?

After all, what is the purpose of a DVD?
If you will not capture Oscar's hands in action, make a good CD and attach some pictures!

It is difficult for me to rate anything of Oscar Peterson with less than 5 stars, but I should give -5 stars to the responsible for the takes.

Buy anyway because it is cheap. But if you want to view Oscar's unbeatable technique in action the 1975 DVD is the right place.

i got a ton of jazz and prog dvds for xmas and this is by far the best of the lot. i had low expectations because of 2 bass players. that just seemed stupid to me, but trust me youll love this. the way the 2 basses are used is really logical and at no point are both playing on top of each other(except one short part that is not weird or lame sounding at all). i dont think ive ever heard oscar lay down the law like he does on this video. when i saw its just $10 i really couldnt believe it. this thing is gold.

The Montreux Jazz Festival of 1975 was something special. All concerts recorded that year by the JATP group and individual artists show this.
Basie was in great shape, Ella too, Milt Jackson did maybe his best concert ever (together with Oscar Peterson)"Jackson".
Oscar Peterson was recorded in several ways, but only his stunning "Cubano Chant" from this solo recital, made it to the records (2-lp Montreux Collection). Years and years later part of this outstanding concert was released on a rare Japanese Laserdisc and finally we have this concert on DVD (still not on cd, why not?)
But there are some strange things about this production.
First let me tell me you that some of the reviews are completely wrong here. The fine DVD of Oscar with the two greatest bassists ever: Ray Brown and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen was recorded in 1977, so TWO YEARS LATER, and all reviews speaking of that concert, should move to that concert, both on cd and dvd.
This release however has also some problems.
Although I love the releases of this label: Eagle Vision, I just can not understand why these people just forget to mention several tracks (and maybe the best of the entire concert) on the sleeve.
Missing are: Cubano Chant (one of the very best solo jazz performances ever), If I had you (just great) and the showstopper, that left everyone breathless: EIGHT BAR BOOGIE!
I hate jazzpolls and I think it is stupid to compaire artists.
But I can understand why Norman Granz said of Oscar in this years and in this shape, that he surpassed Art Tatum.
But Tatum was a complete different pianist. Okay he had that stunning pianotechnic too, but Oscar was not only "fast fingers in flight" he was swing, he was blues, he was ballads, and he was certainly the best and loyal accompanist in jazz.
He was in fact the most complete pianist ever. (including the classical pianists) The great Duke Ellington told him to play solo: "Do it without the eggs and the onions." So Oscar did in the 70ths several incredible solo concerts and this is a well hidden treasure that was finally released on DVD.
How many supelatives can one use to describe this superb concert?
There are just not enough stars and words for this kind of genius and perfection.
This music is so great, so breathtaking, that I can only tell you: LISTEN, LISTEN !
Let it take you, admire the artist that is sadly no longer with us.
There will never, ever be another one like him: OSCAR PETERSON.

Arnold van Kampen, jazzcritic, the Netherlands.

In a nutshell, this DVD delivers. Oscar Peterson pulls out all his trademark moves at the piano, from giant stride playing to incredible, twinkling runs. Peterson fans won't be disappointed (except, perhaps, by the clothing fashions of the time).

Those who enjoy the hard, fast, fiery playing of Peterson will almost definitely love the bass of Niels Pedersen. He lays down technically awesome, beautifully melodic solos with ease. Ray Brown, Peterson's long-standing bass player, is more "old-school" (1940s or 50s) and sounds subdued when compared to Pederson, but make no mistake that Brown plays great, thought-provoking lines, not to be missed.

After Peterson plays a few solo selections from his tour, the rest of the DVD, including encore, is with Pederson and Brown. Both bass players play and take solos on every tune, each getting roughly half the time. It's abundantly obvious that all three players are having a fantastic time playing in this pretty unusual ensemble.

The DVD includes a short special feature where Pederson, much older, recounts an amusing anecdote about the '77 set.

Low price or not, this DVD is worth every penny! His performance sparkles with brilliance. Oscar in his prime is an amazing sight. "Sweet Georgia Brown", the closing track, is incredible. The facial expression of bassists Ray Brown and Niels Pederson show their awe of Oscar's keyboard prowess. I highly recommend this DVD.

On this form it is hard to disagree with the back cover of the DVD which says that Oscar Peterson could rightly claim to be the greatest Jazz pianist of all time.
The uptempo stuff is simple amazing, both on a technical level and the through the swing he generates playing solo. The camera angles (better than on the two bass player trio DVD) give great insight into Oscar's amazing techique. At high tempos just watch his left hand....
Oh and by the way the ballad playing is also brilliant as well.

I guarantee you an unique experience.
With the greatest jazz piano virtuose I know.

If you are a pianist, this video is a must. Something similar to Georgy Cziffra on classical music. Or Sviatoslav Richter if you prefer.

As mentioned on his official site:
"Oscar came to study with an accomplished classical pianist, Hungarian Paul de Marky, who taught Oscar "technique and speedy fingers". He also helped Oscar come to believe that he had something special to give to the music world."

Therefore, Franz Liszt is on the "pianistic" genealogical tree of Peterson because Peterson studied with de Marky that studied (in Budapest) with Stephan Thoman that was a pupil of Liszt.

That makes sense!

If you know a computer language this DVD can be described as below:

(1) Impressive, sensational
Goto (1)

I have no words to describe his SOLO performance.

Phenomenal!

PS: Although the "picture" quality of the 77 DVD is a bit better, I prefer this DVD because it captured better Oscar's hands. In the 77 DVD many times you see only the Oscar's face and it is difficult to see Oscar's hands. Besides you do not clearly see the keyboard.

Some are sad there are no shots of O.P.'s hands from above, for us to see the true glory of his technique; that seems to be a legitimate claim,
but since I'm not a musician (nor musicologist), as a jazz fan I'm quite happy wiht how Oscar looks...
You can also hear him talk briefly, announcing the two bass players that share the stage with him and try to upstage each other in the most positive and constructive way possible.
The first three solo performances by Oscar on the beginning are great...
The rest of the DVD is history ...
These players both know Oscar very well and, although they hardly play as a typical trio, their virtuosity shines brightly. Although flashy (as Oscar's gig sometimes are), this is a very musical and occasionally quite suble affair.
Great mainstream jazz, great piano and GREAT bass playing.