Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Oscar Peterson: Piano Artist Transcriptions

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Any transcription of OP is worth serious attention especially when we should be doing our own... However, this book is a gem and kudos to the guy(s) who did the transcriptions. The Hal Leonard series of Artist Transcriptions are all uniformly excellent (I have many) and are absolutely indispensible for learning from the greats. What's more all the books are beautifully produced. For what it contains this book is essential. So, do not hesitate. Buy it now!

Oscar is an inspiration and a fascination for jazz players and listners alike. These are superb transcriptions and offer a chance for the mere mortals among us to have a taste of what it's like to play like Oscar. If you have the patience, it will be well rewarded. The quality of the publication is excellent as well with large easy to read font. If you can read piano music, this will be among the best $20 you ever spent - incredible value - enjoy!

I liked this book and the way it is transcribed. The book really isn't for beginner's.I'd class it intermediate to advanced. I'm a big Oscar jazz fan and have another book of his. This books nice because the notations are spread out instead of cramed tight. I'm happy with it and would buy other books of his music if formatted the same.

I love the way Oscar interprets a tune, so naturally I had to pick up this transcription book. This book includes the following 18 songs: A Child is Born, The Continental, The Girl from Ipanema, Gravy Waltz, I'm Old Fashioned, It Ain't Necessarily So, Little Girl Blue, Love is Here to Stay, Moanin', My One and Only Love, Noreen's Nocturne, On the Trail, Over the Rainbow, Place St. Henri, Rockin' Chair, Round Midnight, Stella by Starlight, and Sweet Georgia Brown.

Oscar's got far more "best" songs than these mere 18, but given the dearth of Oscar transcription books out there, I'm satisfied with this collection. There's also a nifty discography, which lets you know exactly what album and which version of a song is transcribed in the book.

The transcriptions are somewhat challenging to play (or at least to a novice player such as myself), i.e. if I start to learn "The Continental" now I'll eventually master it by 2012 - can't wait!

OP was never given quite the credit he rightfully deserves. Technically he stands on his own mountain peak, and whereas a technical comparison with Art Tatum might spur a heated debate, its not really so interesting, since OP, in any event, is Tatum infinitely superior in the art of conveying deep inner emotion to the listener. Its wonderful several very good transcriptions of OP's music has seen the light of day last 5 years. I wonder what kept you ?! The main dispute here may arise over the selection of numbers made. I suppose no-one will ever agree 100% as to what "the very best" are. In this case I find that the selection is good, no doubt, and includes some indisputable highlights. It is strange, though, that the editor didnt focus more on OP's solo music, in view of the numerous trio-transcriptions done already. What happened to "Lulu's back in town" or "Just a Gigolo" ? Also, its a pitty that OP's most famous composition, most discussed and re-arranged number, from his most sold album ever, in that very characteristic blusy OP style, "Hymn to Freedom" from "Night Train" didnt make it. Maybe next publication ? In conclusion, buy this fantastic book, you will not regret it.