The following is taken from the liner notes included in the CD booklet:
The music you are about to hear is taken from two live broadcasts transmitted from the Blue Note Club in Chicago by two of the finest groups of the day.
Canadian-born pianist Peterson had arrived on the New York scene in 1949 (under the auspices of Norman Granz). His prodigious technique and driving will to swing made an immediate impact. Four years on as the leader of the trio on this disc his fame had greatly expanded. Peterson favoured a piano, bass, guitar format (one utilised by Oscar's great favourite Nat King Cole) and worked within this context until 1959. Kessel, who is featured on the Blue Note broadcasts, was shortly to be replaced by Herb Ellis who remained a constant until the group's demise. Of the 6 trio titles 5 are of the classic standard genre Gershwin, Porter et al, the remaining 'Move' is wrongly attributed by Peterson to Miles Davis. Denzil Best penned this durable Be bop favourite. The trio is in great form throughout, nice variety of tempos, and how they swing!
Boniface Ferdinand Leonardo de Franco, Buddy to you, shared with Peterson the unique distinction of being one of the greatest technicians on his chosen instrument. During his career, he won the Down Beat Readers Poll for 10 consecutive years after the war. He, along with Peterson and Buddy Rich, have suffered critical brickbats for technique without taste yet still remained enormously popular with the jazz public. The quartet the clarinettist leads on these sessions had existed since 1951. Pianist Kenny Drew was shortly to be replaced by Sonny Clark, who remained until de Franco disbanded in 1955.
De Franco delivers creative versions of "Somebody Loves Me", "The Things We Did Last Summer" (lovely balladising), "Street of Dreams" and "Easy Living", all of which remained in his repertoire until the late 80's. And then there's Kenny Drew's "Cairo" with Art Blakey building a rhythmic fire under everyone, the famous rim shots and press rolls are in evidence with Blakey almost reducing the number to a clarinet/ drum duet, exciting stuff.
At the time of these broadcasts both Peterson and de Franco were recording and appearing in concert for Norman Granz. Granz obviously appreciated their considerable talents, taking both into the recording studio on numerous occasions both as leaders and sidemen in a rich and diverse variety of musical contexts, many of which have recently surfaced on compact disc. He recorded both Oscar and de Franco together in 1954 alongside Lionel Hampton, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich and resultant music will swing you into bad health. Worth seeking out in the secondhand sections of your jazz record dealer on two Verve double albums "The Jazz Ambassadors" Volume 1 & 2.
But back to the music from the Blue Note: sound quality is very good as is the musical duration. It comes complete with announcements from both Oscar and Buddy, so sit and enjoy some well preserved musical moments in time by two of jazz's most durable creative performers.
DOUG CAMPBELL Jazz Critic — North East Newspapers
Track List and Credits:
OSCAR PETERSON TRIO. At THE BLUE NOTE, CHICAGO, 24 APRIL 1953. Oscar Peterson pno, Ray Brown bs, Barney Kessel gtr.
- INTRODUCTION
- HEAT WAVE
- THE MAN I LOVE
- MOOD
BUDDY DE FRANCO QUARTET. At THE BLUE NOTE, CHICAGO, 24 APRIL 1953 Buddy de Franco clt, Kenny Drew pno, Eugene Wright bs, Art Blakey dms.
- INTRODUCTION
- SOMEBODY LOVES ME
- THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER
- CAIRO
OSCAR PETERSON TRIO. At THE BLUE NOTE, CHICAGO, 1 MAY 1953 Oscar Peterson pno, Ray Brown bs, Barney Kessel gtr.
- INTRODUCTION
- ANYTHING GOES
- THE CONTINENTAL
- HEAT WAVE
BUDDY DE FRANCO QUARTET. At THE BLUE NOTE, CHICAGO, 1 MAY 1953 Buddy de Franco clt, Kenny Drew pno. Eugene Wright bs, Art Blakey dms.
- INTRODUCTION
- STREET OF DREAMS
- EASY LIVIN
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Enjoy the Music!
Other Recordings of the Oscar Peterson Trio:
Other Recordings of the Buddy de Franco Quartet
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