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'A Jazz Odyssey' Oscar Peterson with Collective Personnel Verve 589 780-2

Oscar Peterson plays on all the tracks accompanied by:
1. Get Happy (Major Holley - bass)
2. Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin' (Barney Kessel - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass)
3. How About You? (Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass)
4. When Lights Are Low (Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass)
5. The Honeydripper (Ray Brown - Bass, Ed Thigpen - Drums)
6. This Nearly Was Mine (Ray Brown - Bass, Ed Thigpen - Drums)
7. L'Impossible (Ray Brown - Bass, Louis Hayes - Drums)
8. My Romance (Sam Jones - Bass, Bobby Durham - Drums)
9. Dancing On The Ceiling (Solo Piano)
10. I Only Have Eyes For You (Billie Holiday - Vocal, Charlie Shavers - Trumpet, Flip Phillips - Tenor Saxophone, Barnie Kessel - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Alvin Stoller - Drums)
11. Exactly Like You (Dizzy Gillespie - Trumpet, Stan Getz - Tenor Saxophone, Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Max Roach - Drums)
12. Blue Moon (Roy Eldridge - Trumpet, Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Buddy Rich - Drums)
13. Pennies From Heaven (Lester Young - Tenor Saxophone, Harry 'Sweets' Edison - Trumpet, Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Buddy Rich - Drums)
14. I'll Never be The Same (Coleman Hawkins - Tenor Saxophone, Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Alvin Stoller - Drums)
15. Goody Goody (Ella Fitzgerald - Vocal, Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Jo Jones - Drums)
16. Mic's Jump (JATP All Stars) (Dizzy Gillespie - Trumpet, Herb Ellis - Guitar, Ray Brown - Bass, Gus Johnson - Drums)
17. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Sonny Stitt - Alto Saxophone, Ray Brown - Bass, Ed Thigpen - Drums)
18. Mumbles (Clark Terry - Trumpet, Vocal, Ray Brown - Bass, Ed Thigpen - Drums)

This compilation was issued simultaneously with Oscar Peterson's autobiography of the same name 'A Jazz Odyssey.' The music covers the years between 1950-70 and the first eight tracks feature Peterson as a leader accompanied by either guitar and bass, or bass and drums. Track 9 is the only solo feature and 10-18 are devoted to Peterson accompanying some of the major stars of jazz. Over the years he has accompanied most of the popular jazz artists and always tailors that accompaniment to their particular and varying styles whether it be Sonny Stitt, Lester Young or Ella Fitzgerald. His immense talent also extends to composing and arranging - here there is only track composed by him, 'L'Impossible.' It is a haunting piece that eventually moves into a Latin rhythm and highlights just what he can make of a simple theme.
Throughout, Peterson's playing, with its multiplicity of notes and constant swing peppered with quotes, is instantly recognizable as are the influences of Nat 'King' Cole, Art Tatum and Errol Garner. The whole album is a showcase of his undeniable art and proves what a tremendous contribution he has made to jazz - each track is as fresh as the day it was first recorded. Highly recommended!

Jack Ashby

 

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