Swinging Brass With Oscar Peterson

 

Con Alma

Swinging Brass With The Oscar Peterson Trio

Arrangements and Orchestra Conducted by Russell Garcia

Cover Art: John Altoonas

Art Direction: Merie Shore

Verve Records MG VS-6119

1960

From the back cover: When Oscar Peterson was a young student he practiced the piano for three hours before lunch, five hours between lunch and dinner, then again from 7:30 until his mother decided the rest of the family needed some sleep. The desire to improve, to find new ideas, new channels of expression, has never dimmed. With this album Peterson takes yet another step forward in the unique big-band album that is without precedent in his multifunctional recording career.

"This is something that Russ Garcia had been talking about for a long time," says Peterson, "in fact, ever since we worked together on the first album with strings – the one with Buddy De Franco. Russ and I wanted to do a real southing thing with a big, swinging band. We didn't want to do anything complicated, because when things get too involved they tend to bog down, and when you haven't been used to playing with a big band regularly, that could in itself be enough of an inducement to bogging down."

Peterson's fears were unnecessary. Far from indicating any lack of comfort in this setting, the results show that Garcia's writing stimulated him to the point of producing his most energetically exciting set of performances in years.

The musicians selected were not the customary group of somewhat blasé studio veterans, but a young, keen crew that teamed well-known Los Angeles musicians with some fresh faces. As a consequence, the spirit that permeates the performance lifts these sides far above the level of those often produced by jazz musicians with pick-up recording bands.

Most of the arrangements, Oscar points out, are extensions of routines he had already been playing with the Trio. The ingenious integrations of Peterson, Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen into the body of these big band performances reflects credit on both Peterson and Garcia. – Leonard Feather (Author, The Encyclopedia of Jazz)

From Billboard - March 14, 1960: Arranger-conductor Russ Garcia has showcased the Peterson Trio against a big swinging band, and the results are highly effective. Peterson's delicate, tasteful piano solo work provides fine contrast to the "swinging brass." Eminently spinnable. Tunes mainly unfamiliar, include "Con Alma," Cubana Chant," and "Close Your Eyes."

Stockholm Sweetin'

Blues For Big Scotia

Close Your Eyes

Spirit Feel

Cubana Chant

Con Alma

O.P.

Little Pea's Blues