Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Songbook (1953/1959)

2024 EU import consisting of a combination of tracks from two albums: Oscar Peterson Plays Cole Porter (Clef, 1953) and Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Song Book (Verve, 1959) plus two bonus tracks from the earlier recording session. Here at CDP, we consider that a two-fer. I'm a big fan of Cole Porter (also, apropos of nothing, we share a birthday) and these piano trio interpretations go down real easy. A fantastic pairing of performers and material.

2024 liner notes by Alan Guntry.

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OSCAR PETERSON PLAYS THE COLE PORTER SONG BOOK (1959)

The first twelve tracks of the CD are the 12 tracks - in the same order - originally released on the 1959 Verve album.

Original liner notes by Lawrence D. Stewart.

Peterson - piano
Ray Brown - bass
Ed Thigpen - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• HiFi/Stereo Review: "Peterson is functioning as a superior workman in the fields of contrivance without very much emotional drive in what he is doing."
• CashBox: "A must for the jazz collectors - yet with definite pop appeal."
• DownBeat (★★★): This is not ambitious Peterson by any means; the intent was apparently to aim at the commercial market. It should hit that bull's eye dead center."
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★½
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★★

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: All are quite nice and it sounds like the trio is having a great time; my favorites today are Love For Sale, I've Got You Under My Skin, Every Time We Say Goodbye, Why Can't You Behave?, and It's De-Lovely.

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OSCAR PETERSON PLAYS COLE PORTER (1953)

The remain 14 tracks come from sessions that took place between 1951-54, 12 of which were released in 1953 on the Clef label. These 12 tracks are not presented in the same order as originally released, plus there are two bonus tracks included. As these cuts originally appeared on 10" vinyl, I guess the order doesn't really matter. We've also got a slight change in instrumentation from the earlier tracks: add guitar, subtract drums.

Original liner notes by producer Norman Granz.

Peterson - piano
Bernie Kessel - guitar
Herb Ellis - guitar Ray Brown - bass

Reviews/ratings:

• Billboard (76/100): "the sets will indicate again Peterson's inventiveness, imaginative improvisation and his rhythmic drive."
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: my picks of these 14 tracks include I Get A Kick Out Of You, Let's Do It, Anything Goes, Begin The Beguine, and So Near And Yet So Far. The final cut, From This Moment On, includes vocals from Peterson and while they're perfectly fine, it provides a startling conclusion to an otherwise instrumental album. Yes, I prefer the 1959 recordings, but the entire 26-track CD is worth a listen, even with the few repetitions. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Not with this CD in particular, but with this sort of beautiful music. When I was a child in the mid-1970s, my family seldom went out to a restaurant for dinner. Given my behavior at the time, that's hardly surprising. On rare occasions (maybe once or twice a year), the family would go to Furr's Cafeteria on Grandview Ave.

My parents would always say, "Don't let your eyes be bigger than your stomach" but of course I'd always get too much food anyway. My excessive choices were well worth the weary, frustrated "I told you so" that inevitably ended the meal. In any case, in the Furr's dining room there was often a piano player playing standards like those found on this CD. Mac & cheese, a slice of chocolate pie, and the Great American Songbook. I didn't know how good I had it.

Bud Powell - Inner Fires: The Genius Of Bud Powell (1982)

ELEKTRA/MUSICIAN MONTH (FEBRUARY 2023)

When Bruce Lundvall started the Elektra/Musician label, his goals included not only promoting new signings, but also issuing some historical acquisitions, which were issued as "Jazz Masters Editions."

This is one such release, a set of previously unreleased performances from the private collection of Bill Potts, recorded live on the afternoon of Sunday, April 5, 1953, Club Kavakos, Washington, D.C.

"Known the World Over"

As one would expect, the recording quality isn't the greatest, but it ain't bad considering the circumstances, recording technology, and millieu. And the bop performances are first rate. A 28-year-old Powell flies all over the keyboard and it seems the rhythm section is just trying to keep up. Hell, it wears me out just listening. Mingus gets a couple of solos, but unfortunately sometimes gets lost in the rudimentary mix.

CD booklet includes liner notes, track-by-track annotations, an interview with Powell, and comments from Chick Corea. Plus original cover art from Marshall Arisman.

Powell - piano
Charlie Mingus - bass
Roy Haynes - drums

Reviews/ratings:

• Billboard: "some fleet, involving playing from Powell as well as a consistent ensemble interplay that's mesmerizing."
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000) (★★★★): "simply masterful, a genius at the office."

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: You can't go wrong with any of the tracks here, but my top two picks are Gershwin's Nice Work If You Can Get It and the bebop standard, Salt Peanuts (with a very tasty, lengthy solo from Haynes).

The final track, track 12, consists of two interviews from 1963, given as Powell was recuperating from tuberculosis at Bouffemont Sanatorium in France. Those brief interviews are transcribed and translated in the liner notes. Having artist interviews at the end of an album was a fairly common practice on early Elektra/Musician releases. It was an innovative and interesting idea, but ultimately hurts my enjoyment of the full album.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None