Oscar Peterson Plays the Harold Arlen Songbook

Oscar Peterson's Plays The Harold Arlen Songbook collects two LPs on one CD, the first recorded in 1954 with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis, the second five years later with drummer Ed Thigpen replacing guitarist Ellis. Both were part of a major enterprise: the 1952-54 series encompassed 10 composers and 113 songs, the 1959 "reprise" nine albums and 108 songs. The two projects have been fundamentally misunderstood: even critics sympathetic to Peterson have censored the brevity of the tracks and the consonant thinness of improvisation. That is doubly to miss the point: the overriding purpose of all 19 albums was to focus on the composers' art, not that of Peterson or his trios. If that is properly grasped at the outset, this Verve Masters CD will bring delight and satisfaction in equal measure; Arlen was never the household name Gershwin or Porter became, but his compositions have proved durable and classy. Since they are also as consistent as Peterson himself, it is almost invidious to pick out particular tracks; however, the 1954 versions of "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues", "Accentuate The Positive" and "Blues In The Night" are outstanding, as are the drum trio's renditions of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" and "That Old Black Magic". Remastering has been expertly done. --Richard Palmer

Label: Unknown
Studio: Verve
Released: 2001-10-15
Format: Audio CD