Exclusively for My Friends: The Lost Tapes

Exclusively for My Friends: The Lost Tapes

ASIN: B000004705

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Between 1963 and 1968, Oscar Peterson released a series of six albums for the German MPS label. Recorded before a live audience in an elegant, old Black Forest villa, the albums had a looser, more intimate feel than the commercially minded projects he cut with American producer Norman Granz. This album consists of previously unreleased performances from '65 to '67. On the later sessions, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen are replaced by Sam Jones and Bobby Durham, respectively. Peterson reins supreme on the keys, leavening his baroque flourishes, which eventually came to characterize his playing, with convivial good vibes. --Rick Mitchell

Tracks:

Gravy Waltz
Three O'Clock In The Morning
Squeaky's Blues
Tenderly
I Will Wait For You
Let's Fall In Love
Put On A Happy Face
Stella By Starlight
Moanin'
Never Say Yes
It's Impossible
My Romance

Amazon.com essential recording

Between 1963 and 1968, Oscar Peterson released a series of six albums for the German MPS label. Recorded before a live audience in an elegant, old Black Forest villa, the albums had a looser, more intimate feel than the commercially minded projects he cut with American producer Norman Granz. This album consists of previously unreleased performances from '65 to '67. On the later sessions, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen are replaced by Sam Jones and Bobby Durham, respectively. Peterson reins supreme on the keys, leavening his baroque flourishes, which eventually came to characterize his playing, with convivial good vibes. --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews:

Essential to any fan of jazz, swing, piano or music........2007-06-29

What a shock that Amazon no longer carries this one, an outstanding session even by Peterson standards. No doubt it's still in print in some pricey box collection for Peterson completists, but the broader listening public deserves better. This album, simply put, is as good as it gets, with Oscar in the company of bass and drums (rather than Herb Ellis' guitar). Recorded in Germany by Oscar's audiophile-jazz producer friend, Hans George Brunner-Schwer, the audio captures Oscar at full stride and his preferred Bosendorfer in all of its glory, before a small group of especially engaged, appreciative fans to insure that nothing is held back, phoned in, or cut short to suit short-attention spans. Another reason I generally recommend this one is that it gives listeners a chance to hear Oscar in the company of two different rhythm sections--the tandems of Ray Brown/Ed Thigpen and Sam Jones/Bobby Durham. Without taking the least bit away from the former pair, Jones and Durham provide a gritty, unshakeable groove--especially since both of these specialized "ditch-diggers" couldn't care less about solo time.

Vintage Peterson.......2001-12-09

This is one of Peterson's finest efforts, although the disc set is hard to find. The reltively rare selections and their assembly form a complete work and allow the listener to experience the many aspects of his virtuosity. From the elegance and beauty of his unique chords that are the essence of Peterson, to the fast driving up-tempo tracks, you get to hear them without the annoying flourish and embellishment that distract in other recordings. This live performance captures Peterson at his very best, in his prime.

If you buy only one jazz piano CD- this is it.......2001-02-07

a jazz player once told me flat out that Oscar was the best. I dutifully shook my head yes and listened to a lot of his early stuff. Great talent but somewhat uninspiring arrangements. Then I stumbled onto this CD. If you know anything about playing the piano, you will listen to this performance with your mouth wide open, barely able to believe what you are hearing. His virtuosity and sheer "athleticism" are beyond description. This CD is simply a journey to another world.

Ah, so this is why the heavens created the piano..........2000-11-15

This is incredible. This is no longer jazz, but an entire genre of music in its own right, which swings so hard they had to lose the tapes, it seems.The version of Squeaky's Blues just takes your ears and your heart and rips them to shreds, and then it really gets going. Damn, this is good.

Superb Jazz.......1998-06-27

This C.D. contains some great music. The mix of familiar and new music is balanced. Oscar's piano ability is outstanding as well as the other musicians. Pardon the phrase, but it is a must have.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music