I just LOVE watching Oscar play.. He smiles, he laughs, he sweats, he leans back and closes his eyes-- He just enjoys creating jazz...And it's so fluid and effortless.. The piano is just a vehicle, an extension of himself.. I try to do it that way too (alto sax)-- Sometimes it's hard, if you're not absolutely fluent on your instrument.. The instrument becomes an obstacle, and you end up struggling to get your point across.. Maybe the changes are a little unfamiliar or the tempo's not exactly in the groove.. But man, those moments when everything just clicks... it's magic. It's then I realize that there's simply no music like jazz.. It's a product of humanity-- Of struggles, triumphs, sadness, elation, the feeling in your heart at that moment in time. Nobody can write that stuff down, in advance, as dots on paper. It MUST be the product of spontaneous creation, not preconceived. That's what makes it unique and unequaled in the music world. Long Live Jazz!
So true. The Jazz musicians do this ...a lot. Just Like Erroll Garner and organist Jimmy Smith. It's interesting, I only have heard the men do this not the women. Once I heard someone describe Michael Jordan the basketball player as a JAZZ BALLER because he likes to play spontaneously and says he surprises himself by doing something just out the bag. Wow. LON LIVE JAZZ indeed:)
"Sometimes it's hard, if you're not absolutely fluent on your instrument.. The instrument becomes an obstacle, and you end up struggling to get your point across." Very well put. This is how I feel almost every day. :(
One aspect of Oscar's playing that is often overlooked is his ability as an accompanist. Not only was Oscar one of the greatest pianists, he was also one of the greatest accompanists I have every heard. Accompanying is not easy. You need to support the main voice, lay back. This is something the great Art Tatum had difficulty with. There are many examples of Oscar in a supporting role where his playing is laid back and beautifully supportive - With Ella, Louis, Norman Granz All-Stars, etc.
Let me agree with you dear Rodriguez. There are certain musicians who where gorgeous in comping skills, and Oscar is on the top. There's a duo album by Oscar And Ella, if you listen to Mean To Me on that track you'll see the whole magic of Oscar's Comping. Another great example is, Jam Session with Charlie Parker, he comps blues for 15 minutes and he is a creator all the time. Bebop comping is something different from everything, and there as well Oscar is great, for example an album with Sonny Stitt. Thank you for this great comment about my hero.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo, no es fácil para nada, haz de ser muy humilde musicalmente hablando aparte de tener muy buenas habilidades con el instrumento para ofrecer un muy buen acompañamiento, y más aun y en este caso con un saxo tenor.. sin duda dos grandes.
A great example of Oscar’s great talent and gift is on the Norman Granz recording where he accompanied the horn players on a ballad medley (and played a solo of his own). Oscar and Ray Brown seamlessly accompanied each tune and changed keys. Not easy and it was done beautifully.
I’m just blown away by not only the musicians, but the miking, mix, and camerawork as well. This is a masterfully crafted piece of audio/visual art. Thoroughly pleasurable!
if ever there was a man that loved music and playing it more than Oscar I don't know him.this is just lovely down home swinging jazz.played by jazz giants.many thanks.
My favourite Jazz pianist for last 45 years !! Love to keep listening to him what ever the format..Trio, Quartet ..Love his Live music at festivals !!!
What an amazing combination of talents. I was privileged to be in the Beaux Arts Brussels for what I believe was Oscars last concert in Europe. Minus Nils he died a year or so before
Not very often do we have the pleasure of hearing Ben Webster so masterly wrapped. The lovely Peterson piano and Niels Henning at bass makes this, one of the best recordings of both, Webster and Peterson. The last Webster cds, those ranking from 65 on, are for me his best. But here, there is the plus of him playing with Oscar Peterson, who no doubt was with Bill Evans, the two legendary jazz pianists. Peterson was indeed very different from Evans. He hadn't his musical knowledge, but was a mainstream jazz pianist gifted with a such a swing that made him unique and let's say, born to play jazz. Easier than Evans for not being so introspective and with a natural easiness to play, Peterson stands as a giant. A pleasure cd to have. He excelled playing ballads, too. So, every record of Peterson Ballads will doubtless make you love jazz music. You have a sample here. Get it, a must cd.
Wanderful musicians, Oscar is "the jazz"....Que maravilla el cuarteto insuperable Nils en contrabajo es impresionante ,de todos los contrabajistas que tuvo Oscar Nils es SUPERIOR ...........
The legendary Oscar Peterson sure knew how to entertain a crowd with his spontaneous and fluid piano key movements which just brimmed with his musical style and confidence ! Born In Montreal , he lived his later in Mississauga Ontario (a city located on the western outskirts of Toronto ). He is truly missed , but his music goes onnnNNN!
It's sad when audiences don't know proper jazz protocol... As an example, notice absolutely zero applause after Oscar's jaw-dropping solo on "I Got It Bad...".. I sat here applauding in my mind and was astounded at the lack of response. As a jazz musician myself, I'm especially sensitive to things like that.. I've played my heart out on solos and then opened my eyes to see stony faces with blank expressions, or people buried in their i-devices or in conversations. Cuts like a knife. Really makes you appreciate a hip, attentive crowd.
+epf1961 ... Being a jazz musician myself, I've also had that same experience many times ....playing your heart out and people just walking by the band stand ...I guess you could use "don't know proper jazz protocol" but I found out long ago most people out there just aren't hearing those beautiful miracles, they may be listening but not hearing it.
claro que es formidable este trio: Peterson, Webster, Niels Pedersen ; no se quien toca la batería, pero ... urrah por él también. Gracias por dar a conocer este momento de 1972...
Wonderfull, just mind blowing. Was in the Beax Arts Brussels in 2006 for one of Oscars last concerts in Europe.Even with an impaired left hand he was astonishing. Hugh Troy
Thanks Rafael, for uploading this wonderful meeting of two giants; Oscar and Ben Webster..with solid support from Oscar's band... Doesn't get any better than this..!
I woul have guessed the drummer was Martin Drew, just because he played so much with OP. I'm not questioning your accuracy, just asking how you know the drummer is Tony Inzalco? Wikipedia's list of who he drummed for from 1559 to the 90's is most of the Gods of Jazz. in that era. Im embarrassed to admit I've never heard of him before today. Maybe he played more live gigs with these giants than he recorded with them? Inzalco is certainly fine here, with the other three Gods of their instruments.
John Jones, you must have every album Oscar Peterson recorded. I listened to his album playing Sinatra's songs yesterday. Oscar's discography shows over 200 albums, but that doesn't include those where he was a guest artist on someone else's album. He also recorded for numerous labels around the world. I would love to have every album he has recorded, and have it on vinyl. When I was a teenager in the 1970s, I would buy numerous Peterson albums with money I received on my birthday and Christmas, happily adding to my collection, spending hours at Tower Records in San Diego. A week or two later, I'd go back to Tower Records with my dad, and there would be more releases that weren't there when I shopped. My dad joked that Oscar had people watching me, and would release three albums for every one I bought, just so I'd never catch up. He was releasing six or more albums per year in the 1950s and 1960s, and the number decreased in the late 1990s and 2000s, when age and health problems took their toll. Thank you for making Oscar's albums available. The ninth anniversary of his death is coming up on 12/23/16. I miss him so much.
Oops, I posted this comment on the wrong place, but there is someone named John Jones who has uploaded Oscar's albums from the 1950s to the 1990s. There are gems in that collection, and worth checking out.
Beautiful jazz is the reason why humanity is allowed to continue. The cosmos relates to unique vibes. If good vibes continue we continue, inspite of the cruel crap we're capable of......Just a theory!
They made a few classic albums together like - Ben meets Oscar - and the best imo, - Soulville -, all on the Verve label and accessible here on YT. To leave the drummer out of the line-up credits is just disrespectful. This is a great live-session folks. Dig, Enjoy and just keep swingin’ & Cheers!
Yes Tim White!! They're all just playing at the very very highest levels, and they're COMMUNICATING with each other as well!! WOW. Thanks so much for posting!!
Just marvelous, absolutely marvelous. I could listen all day long! These guys are all musical hero’s! For those saying “three top musicians”. Who are you leaving out? Ben Webster? The drummer?
Loving this set. 3 amazing talents, masters at their craft and legends in their own right (not sure who the drummer is - sorry - I do love his bit at 29 mins though) So hard to believe Ben Webster died the following year - makes this all the more precious.
+Friederick Smørhår But so electronic of a tone. No bass body tone. Electric drone. I know no one cares, but as a bass player, I choose bass instruments on their acoustic voice, and he's gone all the way piezo on this.
+SeerTrulth It's funny you should mention it cuz I was uncertain of why his sound is so nice, soft and clear. Perhaps it has something to do with piezo-thing(pianist, not technical about bass). I like the acoustic sound in music in general, and on a piano I agree that the sound is much more round and sharp when it is acoustic and not stage-piano, but I must say I'm a BIG fan of electric bass and guitar. And besides the nice and soft tone in NH.Ø.P's solos I really like the groove, tightness and oh the slides mmm so good.
Ben Webster sets the groove, Oscar adds the blues, and Henning plays lower chords rather repetitiously to assist in bringing the fullness of the jazz sound. Although Henning's strength is his finger work, he manages to handle his improv with a touch of imagination. He generally plays chords where the much needed bass body tone is substituted for a more electrical sound highlighted by his finger work. Ray Brown, a former pianist and bassist with Oscar, showed great timing and played imaginative chords that complimented the many moods Oscar often includes in his playing. "The Trio" of Oscar, Brown, and Thigpen were the best I've seen. No one played swing like these guys.
Nils Henning was an amazing Bassist no 2 ways about it ..Just because he was from Denmark He was always considered an outsider With a Different style / Slant of playing But He"s amazing A Pro Contra B player since he was 14 years old Check out His Solo Piece from 1994 with Oscar..."Samba Petite" (Summer Flower) Live..Abso amazing!
Ray did play funky basslines as well, there's an Impulse big band LP co-led by Ray Brown and Milt Jackson which is all late '60s jazz funk. It actually sounds like the soundtrack to a porn movie...
Oscar and Nils had to sit there and say something like "God lord dammit, that's BEN WEBSTER that I am sitting with!" And what Ben's genius ass played up behind their asses most certainly made that possibly what they was thinking.
