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Oscar Peterson Performance 1983 Live in Tokyo

Rick Beato has a youtube entitled greatest solo of all time. I went for it and Beato pulls out this Oscar Peterson trio performance at Ronni Scotts 1974. Oscar burns a hole in the floor with the longest, beautifully tuned grand I have ever seen. From both a technical  and musical standpoint, darn it if Beato isn't right! So, I pulled up the entire performance and watched it on the big system. The trio is Oscar, Neils Pederson (bass) and Joe Pass (guitar). Oscar is doubling as percussion. The entire performance is mind bending. I never realized how good Pederson and Pass were. I'd never heard them in a live performance. The Studio Records always seemed to me to be...contrived. Not forgetting about Oscar's playing, Pederson and Pass are both up there with the greats. Even if the music is not your cup of tea the technique of all three artists will amaze. There are more "I can't believe he just did that" moments in this video than I have ever seen and heard in one performance before. If you have not seen it please enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJ1vU23X4A
mijostyn
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
@tablejockey , The Good Life was taken from the same sessions as The Trio. I just ordered both of them and everything else recorded by that trio.

@bdp24, as a frustrated drummer myself, I hear you but Peterson is such a powerful piano payer He sets the pace and can drift for emotion and swing without interference from a drummer. So, without a drummer Oscar and the others are set free. From a technical perspective Oscar stands a good chance of being the best jazz pianist who ever lived but from a purely musical perspective I prefer Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock with honorable mentions to Chick Corea (RIP) and McCoy Tyner.
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frogman
7,510 posts
 
Great to see these greats get some love. Amazing musicians all. However, are we getting two different performances a little mixed up? Maybe I’m missing something? If so, apology and please clarify.

The 1974 trio performance at Ronnie Scott’s (Beato) does not include Joe Pass. It is Barney Kessel on guitar, (no drummer). The provided link in the OP is of a 1983 quartet performance in Tokyo. This time, Joe Pass, Martin Drew on drums, and once again one of Peterson’s very favorite bass players, Niels-Henning Pederson.

BTW, I agree, sometimes I like the drummer-less trio setting. Different and lighter vibe going without a drummer. Highlights just what amazing time players of this caliber have; which is the only way it works without a drummer.

Here is a link to the 1974 Ronnie Scott’s trio performance:

https://youtu.be/MnR6R4vXgUM

Mijo, you mention the beautiful grand piano. Listen to the first note one hears on the above video. Even on my iPad one can hear that the piano is Oscar’s instrument of choice, the Bosendorfer. Fantastic instrument with a distinctive sound and uniquely resonant and clean sounding left hand which extends roughly a half octave lower than most grands.

One more. Amazing!

https://youtu.be/-bkRhge3li4

In case anyone is wondering why the reference to Count Basie.  Don’t miss the conversation between Oscar and the Count towards the end:

https://youtu.be/2HAZP7nWo6A

tablejockey
4,038 posts
 
"The Good Life was taken from the same sessions as The Trio"


The LP jacket says it was recorded at the London House hotel in Chicago-May 1973. I'm guessing it's a "supper club" setting? You can hear the waiters running around, glasses/plates being shuffled
about. Once you settle into the album, you want to signal a waiter over for a drink!
elliottbnewcombjr
5,875 posts
 
thanks to you and others for the Oscar links. 

He is awesome, heard him live a few times at Blue Note and at Carnegie Hall, met him, very generous with his time, a classy gentleman.
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