Oscar Peterson – Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie (1955/2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Oscar Peterson – Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie (1955/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 44:49 minutes | 1,67 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Verve Reissues

This 1955 release finds pianist Oscar Peterson delving into the Count Basie songbook, one of several albums Peterson recorded in the 1950s dedicated to specific composers. He is surrounded by a stunning line-up of talent here, namely Ray Brown on double bass, guitarist Herb Ellis and legendary drummer Buddy Rich.

On the face of it, pianist Oscar Peterson (whose virtuosity always allowed him to play an infinite amount of notes) and Count Basie (who made inventive use of silence and space by emphasizing single rhythmic sounds) would seem to have had little in common. However they both swing, and there was a definite overlapping in their repertoire. Peterson’s Basie tribute is a near-masterpiece. With guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and guest drummer Buddy Rich all playing quite sympathetically, Peterson’s arrangements make the nine Basie-associated songs (along with Peterson’s original “Blues for Basie”) all sound quite fresh and lightly swinging. Quite a few of these renditions (particularly “Easy Does It,” “9:20 Special,” “Broadway,” and “One O’Clock Jump”) are instantly memorable.

Tracklist:

1. Oscar Peterson – Lester Leaps In (04:00)
2. Oscar Peterson – Easy Does It (06:28)
3. Oscar Peterson – 9:20 Special (03:41)
4. Oscar Peterson – Jumpin’ At The Woodside (05:41)
5. Oscar Peterson – Blues For Basie (03:33)
6. Oscar Peterson – Broadway (04:31)
7. Oscar Peterson – Blue And Sentimental (02:28)
8. Oscar Peterson – Topsy (04:22)
9. Oscar Peterson – One O’Clock Jump (05:49)
10. Oscar Peterson – Jive At Five (04:11)

Download: