West Side Story: Oscar Peterson Trio [Original recording remastered]

West Side Story (Related Recordings), Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson & Stephane Grappelli | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 24, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1962
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000069N9
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,312 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant reworking of classic broadway/film songs, March 13, 2000

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: West Side Story: Oscar Peterson Trio (Audio CD)

This disc is just about everything I'd hoped it would be. Recorded in 1962, it features a trio comprised of Oscar Peterson (Piano), Ray Brown (Bass) and Ed Thigpen (Drums). I'm least familiar with Thigpen (didn't he save 50 games for the ChiSox once?), and most familiar with Brown. I like the playing of all three very much.

Peterson is very obviously the leader here, and his piano is featured very prominently. Brown and Thigpen offer nice backing sounds (I especially like the sound of Thigpen's cymbals), while Peterson plays very energetically over the top.

The disc features seven tracks: "Something's Coming" "Somewhere" "Jet Song" "Tonight" "Maria" "I Feel Pretty" and "Reprise", clocking in at a rather short 35 minutes.

As the liner notes discuss, the problem Peterson faced with this LP was to take music composed as a score and make it work in a jazz setting. It had to be opened up for improvisation without losing "the essence of the music." I think he's accomplished both. There is room in the arrangements for the trio to work out, but at the same time the original feeling of the music (as presented in its Broadway and film soundtracks) is preserved.

A brilliant example of how a great song can be recontextualized and remain a great song.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stimulating reworking of a great soundtrack, December 27, 2000

By 

Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: West Side Story: Oscar Peterson Trio (Audio CD)

The Oscar Peterson discography is so immense that it's difficult to sort through the entries. If you're looking for a first purchase, "West Side Story" is a good pick, particularly if you are a fan of the original broadway or film soundtrack.

Piano playing seemed to come so easily for Peterson that at times on records I've had the feeling he's going through the paces. When he is at his best, though, he swings clean and hard and demonstrates he knows a tune inside and out. That is the case throughout this release. And he's not afraid to turn some of the tunes in different directions. For example, he steps up the tempo on "Tonight," a potentially risky move on an extremely romantic song, but the move works as Peterson, backed up by Ray Brown's steady bass and Ed Thigpen's tasteful drums, never falters.

On the other hand, the pianist does not shy away from the lyricism of "Somewhere," accenting the theme with ornate chording that mines the yearning and sadness that is at the heart of "West Side Story." And he finds a relaxed, loping gait on "Jet Song," a pace that for me captures the cheerful arrogance of the play's street gang.

Interpretations of "West Side Story" have been attempted before, most notably Dave Liebman's more experimental effort a few years back. For me, Peterson's approach is the more successful of the two in that I think he came closer to finding the pulse of the original work. This is a good addition to the mainstream section of your jazz piano collection.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply amazing...one of the all time best CDs, June 12, 2005

By 

hershy (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Side Story: Oscar Peterson Trio (Audio CD)

I already love the soundtrack to West Side Story, and the thought of redoing it never even crossed my mind. Then I saw Oscar Peterson in concert in Oakland, CA at Yoshis and being caught up in the moment after the show I bought this CD. It is simply one of the greatest CDs of all time. Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, and Ed Thigpen bring new life to a soundtrack that didn't even need "new life," but it is simply amazing. If you like jazz at all and/or like West Side Story this is a MUST buy. Oscar Peterson does not let down and brushes those keys with such feeling that it will take you aback. He is truly one of the last living "greats" and everyone needs to buy this CD. Like a previous review said...the only negative about this album is that America was not included but that's alright. Even if you're not into jazz, after listening to this...you just might be.