Customer Reviews

Oscar Peterson Trio Plus One (Reis) (Rstr)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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I knew that this priceless session had recently seen a domestic reissue, but try as I might I couldn't do better than scare up previous, pricey oop editions, Japanese imports, the other session with Oscar and Clark Terry (perhaps equally worthy, but I wanted the "Mumbles" date for a grand child). Whatever's awry with Amazon's search protocol, if you've found this page, that's half the battle. Amazon's One-Click purchase system makes the rest a piece of cake.

The session is worth owning even though these musicians are so familiar to most listeners by now the proceedings are pretty much as expected. On the other hand, I had assumed Oscar would be in his "quiet and deferential" mode, taking it as easy on Clark as possible. Forget that. Clark takes the initiative and motivates the trio to match him stride for rollicking stride. Oscar is not simply doing his Verve "house pianist" thing for Norman Granz but is fully engaged in the humor, good spirits, and downright swinging earthiness of the proceedings. And no question that Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen are having an equally good time.

Definitely one of Oscar's better studio albums as an accompanist and a session that kids of all ages deserve to hear. C.T. is equally communicative on the horn (sometimes two of them) as well as his "mumbles mode," and besides playing pretty fair piano, Oscar himself is, as usual, prone to his own non-musical vocalizations.

(Minor quibble: the documentation with this edition--mine, at least--is spartan, to say the least. This meeting deserves far better--a description of the pre-recording circumstances as well as the session itself and perhaps even some after-history of this foursome.)

This is a rediculously low price for what is a classic album. Clark Terry literally kills it on every track. "Brotherhood of Man" is a great opener and sets the tone for this whole session. He pushes Oscar and the rest of the trio to the top of their game. This is not an uninspired mashup thrown together to sell copies, but a truly inspired date. Everyone seems to be having a great time and is on top of their game. When you hear Clark killing it on Brotherhood, Blues for Smedley, pretty much every track there is no way you can keep a straight face. This whole record swings so bad it's unbelievable!

This is a feel-good, hard-driving and even harder-swinging mainstream album you'll never regret buying... Clark Terry,

with his two happy horns and memorable vocals (you have the original Mumbles track here, I believe) joined forces with quite a powerhouse jazz unit: Oscar Peterson trio!

Since Samuel Chell wrote a nice review I concurr with completely, I'd like to add few recommendaitons for those who like this gem or, maybe,

give you a clue what to expect by quoting other albums you might own and like:

Oscar Peterson & Clark Terry

Live at the Village Gate

At Newport Live

Roy & Diz

Norman Granz Jazz in Montreux Presents Clark Terry Sextet '77

To Duke & Basie