catesta Posted April 5, 2004 Report Share Posted April 5, 2004 EXCLUSIVELY FOR ME FRIENDS Is it already pirate-speaking time again, maties? A very much needed laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris olivarez Posted April 6, 2004 Report Share Posted April 6, 2004 Warning:being an Oscar Peterson completist is not for the faint of heart. Or those not independently wealthy, or those with any sanity remaining. Wow. Just thinking of being an "Oscar Peterson Completist" makes me quake with fear. Let's see; if I give up food, the wife, the cats, any social life whatsoever...nope; still couldn't afford it! Jazzmoose,Jazzmoose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 I like "Nigerian Market Place", a piano, bass & drum date. And I second the recommendation of "Trio Plus One" with Clark Terry's (great) 'Mumbles' vocals. Having said that, I basicly agree with those having expressed reservations. But I still enjoy him on occassion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 My main complaint with Oscar is that he steers me towards indifference. I don't hate him, I don't really like him either...he just has never really registered with me. I like his playing when he's supporting other soloists, he puts in numerous good performances on various Verve albums throughout the 50's and early 60's...but I haven't heard any of his leader albums that made me desire a copy of my own. The only exception to that rule is Oscar Peterson Trio+1: Clark Terry. That is one of my all-time favorite jazz albums, but that's because of Terry for the most part. So for my part I will agree that he's a talented musician, he just doesn't connect with me on any emotional level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 I don't care for him much as a soloist, but I like some of the records he made backing trumpet players - Louis Armstrong on Verve and Clark Terry on Pablo come to mind. I guess I find him listenable if he's not in the forefront. The one time I heard him play live was at a concert, and I remember being very frustrated with his playing. He'd play a line that would start to have some originality and feeling, and would immediately follow that with a series of cliches. I left at intermission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeway Posted April 12, 2004 Report Share Posted April 12, 2004 I agree with you. OP has considerable technical facility, but his playing, or the musical thinking behind it, seems to me utterly conventional. I'm rarely surprised or challenged by OP's playing. Your comment about "cliches" strikes me as spot on. Like you, I do like the way he backed up some of the better horn players of the day. In some ways, he reminds me of Wynton Marsalis-- great technical ability but a fundamental conventionality of musical thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Englewood Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Songbooks Etcetera Looking for opinions/advice on this one. Would this be a good way to get a lot of Oscar in one fell swoop? This is what it contains according to Amazon. Product Description There are at least five Oscar Petersons on display on this comprehensive 10 CD Box Set representing Oscars work with the legendary Norman Granz and celebrating his 80th birthday on August 15th 2005.......the virtuoso soloist, the leader of a rapidly evolving piano trio, the master accompanist, the indefatigable anchor of the Jazz At The Philharmonic rhythm section, and the devoted chronicler of the American popular song. CD's 1-5 of AVID's re-mastered set focuses on Oscar's rather neglected work interpreting the Great American Songbook where he and Granz "tried to draw more people into jazz", including works by Kern, Arlen, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Gershwin amongst many others. CD 6 features Oscars first session with Granz as he accompanies the legendary Billie Holiday across 16 sides that show his talent as an accompanist. CD's 7-8 capture Oscars collaboration with four leading tenor sax men: Lester Young, Ben Webster, Stan Getz getting fired up with Dizzy Gillespie, and a rare session with the unique Flip Phillips. CD's 9-10 features the entire 1954 issue from the Jazz At The Philharmonic, including Oscar playing alongside such names as Lester Young, Bill Harris and Ray Brown. Complete with a fine essay by Dr Richard Palmer AVID's latest release is a testament to a great pianist whose courage, dedication and sheer will shine through in his playing and to a great partnership with his friend, mentor and patron Norman Granz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Dorward Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 .....a great pianist whose courage, dedication and sheer will shine through in his playing ..... What is it with the constant application of the term "will" (as in "the will to swing") to OP? It makes me think of Leni Riefenstahl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 What is it with the constant application of the term "will" (as in "the will to swing") to OP? An unconsious admission that he's fighting to do something that does not come natural to him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 (edited) What is it with the constant application of the term "will" (as in "the will to swing") to OP? It makes me think of Leni Riefenstahl. Sorry but I don't see any connection - artistic or esthetic not to speak of political -between OP and the Nuremberg gatherings that Riefenstahl filmed! None whatsoever! Nate, you may not be a fan of OP but he deserves better than this! Edited February 20, 2007 by brownie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garthsj Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) What is it with the constant application of the term "will" (as in "the will to swing") to OP? It makes me think of Leni Riefenstahl. Sorry but I don't see any connection - artistic or esthetic not to speak of political -between OP and the Nuremberg gatherings that Riefenstahl filmed! None whatsoever! Nate, you may not be a fan of OP but he deserves better than this! I agree wholeheartedly with Brownie; Oscar certainly deserves better than a cynical dismissal. There are lots of things that could be said about Oscar Peterson (mostly positive) but to suggest that he does not "swing" certainly should not be one of them. (Of course, this is likely to start a whole new interminable discussion of what "to swing" means). I had the opportunity to meet Oscar Peterson when I was a student of jazz history at his Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto in 1961. The classes were taught by Oscar, Ray Brown, and Phil Nimmons ... I may not have agreed with everything they said, but to sit in classroom with those musicians and have them "illustrate" their talks was an unforgettable experience. Also, Oscar was, and by all acounts remains one of the true gentlemen of jazz ... I should also point out just for the record, that as the author of several books on the subject of "propaganda" I am fully qualified to state witihout equivocation that there is absolutely no comparison between Leni's "will" to propagandize, and Oscar's "will" to play great jazz! So there ...! Edited February 21, 2007 by garthsj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 what can you say about a musician who said Monk was important as a composer but not as a pianist? I hate him. Can't stand his playing. Glib....pre-digested...fake blues player...no taste...no feeling...annoying musician, everything sounds the same...and read his autobiography to understand why he is such a shallow musician... did I mention that I hate him? no offense to everyone, but there is no musician in any style or form that I find more annoying. Less feeling than Kenny G...more like Mantovani...or Ferrante and Teicher. Andre Previn plays as well as OP. I can do a good imitation of OP playing the blues on the piano, and I suck on the piano - though even I play the instrument with more feeling than OP - no kidding here, it ain't vanity it's reality - I hate him - his playing is like a fingernail against a blackboard - more than one well-known pianist, by the way, has agreed with me about OP, but off-the-record - I HATE HIM but that's just my opinion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 and let's stop those Nazi comparison's - unfair to the Nazis - though I am told by people in the know that Der Fuehrer, in late-night sessions at Berchtesgarden, played much like Oscar - only thing he lacked was a good rhythm section - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) I mean, I can forgive Germany for Hitler - but the Canadians are on my shi# list forever - Edited February 21, 2007 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluesman Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 I used to like OP a lot, but then I heard Bill Evans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Clugston Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 I mean, I can forgive Germany for Hitler - but the Canadians are on my shi# list forever - If OP is the worst thing we can come up with, that's a heck of a lot better than Bush Jr., Kenny G and the pilot of the Enola Gay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocispepraluger102 Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) I used to like OP a lot, but then I heard Bill Evans. did i hear that MANY decades ago OP was playing very creative stuff in a club, for awhile till he got practical? that was long before i ever heard of him. Edited February 21, 2007 by alocispepraluger102 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocispepraluger102 Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) I mean, I can forgive Germany for Hitler - but the Canadians are on my shi# list forever - If OP is the worst thing we can come up with, that's a heck of a lot better than Bush Jr., Kenny G and the pilot of the Enola Gay. the oscar trio(w/herb ellis)did an at-times smoking and often pretty date with bro. getz. the very ancient oscar trio +one clark terry is very palatable to these ears. Edited February 21, 2007 by alocispepraluger102 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 I will mention, in all fairness, that Bill Evans admired OP's playing greatly - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 If there is one really great OP record, this is it: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocispepraluger102 Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 If there is one really great OP record, this is it: missed that one. can it be reasonably acquired? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) If there is one really great OP record, this is it: missed that one. can it be reasonably acquired? It's really a perfect Peterson record. The only one you need to have. $11.98 Edited February 21, 2007 by marcello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocispepraluger102 Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 If there is one really great OP record, this is it: missed that one. can it be reasonably acquired? It's really a perfect Peterson record. The only one you need to have. $11.98 thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Dorward Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 (edited) What is it with the constant application of the term "will" (as in "the will to swing") to OP? It makes me think of Leni Riefenstahl. Sorry but I don't see any connection - artistic or esthetic not to speak of political -between OP and the Nuremberg gatherings that Riefenstahl filmed! None whatsoever! Nate, you may not be a fan of OP but he deserves better than this! Sorry: perhaps my point wasn't clear. It's not really about OP at all (a pianist whom I don't like & I don't dislike: though in Canada saying you don't like OP would be punishable by death if we still had the death penalty). It's about this weird use of the word "will", which has connotations that I find really inappropriate for jazz & swinging, & yet the word keeps turning up in supposedly positive descriptions of Peterson's playing. My allusion to The Triumph of the Will was just to make this point about those dodgy connotations of "will", not to suggest any analogy between OP's music & that film! Edited February 21, 2007 by Nate Dorward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Thanks Nate for the clarification! I get your point better now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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