Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book [Original recording remastered]

Oscar Peterson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000HYIB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,268 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This CD combines two LPs devoted to the same Duke Ellington material recorded by different versions of the Oscar Peterson trio. The first is of particular interest. Dating from 1952, it was a special event, exploiting the then-new LP format to include a dozen of Ellington's most familiar tunes and featuring a superb band. The young Peterson could generate the swing of a big band, while the similarly virtuosic bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Barney Kessel complement him brilliantly. Together they combine boppish approaches and inspired interplay (and a kinetic energy that you would never expect from a trio without drums) to staples like "In a Mellow Tone," "Take the 'A' Train," and "Rockin' in Rhythm." The second half of the CD is a 1959 stereo remake of the original 1952 session, but with drummer Ed Thigpen taking Kessel's place. Despite the similarity in the material, it's an utterly different session, typical of the masterful manner that Peterson gradually developed. It's well-made music, played with consummate polish and ease and clear regard for the material, though without the inventive edges of the earlier group. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Poor sound quality but there is a solution, February 20, 2006

By 

T. Butler "tim-chicago" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book (Audio CD)

This album was recorded at Radio Recorders in December 1952. Radio Recorders was among the best studios in the country at that time. Fred Astaire recorded a two disc album with Oscar Peterson that same month and it is crystal clean. Also Ben Webster recorded there with the Ravens in December 1952 as did Anita O'Day - all with good clean results. Clearly the Peterson tapes are missing and noisy discs were all that was available for the making of the Peterson cd.

Normaly I don't like noise reduction but... the 4 CD set Piano Power (available at Amazon) includes all the cuts on this Duke CD and are much, much quieter. Good use of noise reduction.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poor sound quality, April 18, 2005

By 

Michael C. Webb (RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book (Audio CD)

The transfer to digital format from the analog source includes all of the tape hiss on this disc. The content is great, but the background noise is too much on my system. I'd look for another title from OP and pass on this one.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice for the O.P. fan, April 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book (Audio CD)

This is very nice to see available as it combines two recordings Oscar Peterson made in the fifties as a tribute to the great songs of Duke Ellington. I would not recommend this to a casual jazz fan as a first Oscar Peterson recording to pick up but rather for the big fans of Oscar's work. It is hard to compare the two recordings for a few reasons one is the first songbook recording is mastered from the 12" LP release and surface noise is audible. Second Oscar held back a little from his usual playing in an effort to make the recordings more accessible to the general public. Third is the development of recording techniques in that decade were huge and the dynamics of the two recordings make it obvious. The packaging is very nice however and makes it all the better.