Oscar Peterson Plays the Cole Porter Songbook

Read About This Recording

One of jazz's greatest pianists, Oscar Peterson became a household name in the 1950s, leading a series of trios that also featured bassist Ray Brown. Peterson's ability to swing at all tempos, his phenomenal technique and his virtuosic yet melodic style made him one of the most popular pianists and he has been a major force on his instrument for over a half-century. With producer Norman Granz in his corner, Peterson also became extremely prolific, recording scores of worthy albums.

Among Peterson's projects in the 1950s were two extensive series of songbooks. Although songbook projects have become quite common nowadays, in the '50s they were still a rarity. Peterson recorded many albums dedicated to the work of one composer with his guitar trios (with either Barney Kessel or Herb Ellis) and later in the 1950s with drummer Ed Thigpen and Brown.

Plays The Cole Porter Song Book reissues a 1959 session consisting of a dozen Porter classics. Peterson swings his way through such numbers as It's All Right With Me, Just One Of Those Things, Night And Day and It's De-Lovely, also displaying honest feeling on the alternating ballads. The three musicians seem to think as one, with the pianist as the lead voice throughout.

-Scott Yanow

Contents

In The Still Of The Night; It's All Right With Me; Love For Sale; Just One Of Those Things; I've Got You Under My Skin; Every Time We Say Goodbye; Night And Day; Easy To Love; Why Can't You Behave; I Love Paris; I Concentrate On You; It's De-Lovely.

Oscar Peterson, Piano; Ray Brown, Bass; Ed Thigpen, Drums.