OSCAR PETERSON
Freedom Song/The Oscar Peterson Big 4 In Japan
(Pablo)
Reviewed by Ron Saranich

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Oscar Peterson has to be one of the most prolific jazz artists on record. Looking over the titles of all his recordings can cause serious eye strain. However, one thing is certain. Peterson's music was always at a consistently high level of musicianship, while his solo piano playing was thoughtful, spirited, and free of cliches.

Freedom Song/The Oscar Peterson Big 4 In Japan is a current 2-CD reissue of a 1982 concert in Tokyo. Pederson's bandmates included Joe Pass on guitar, Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen (NHOP) on bass, and Martin Drew on drums. There is over 100 minutes of jazz in the bop genre, and all of it is good, some of it great. Peterson plays solo piano on Monk's "Round Midnight" and a medley of Legrand's "Watch What Happens" and Bill Evans' "Waltz For Debbie." Joe Pass plays alone on "Easy Living," while NHOP shines by himself on "Future Child." The performance of the quartet is exemplary, while the various configuration of solo artists helps to vary the pacing.

Oscar Peterson possessed an abundance of talent and technique. So much, in fact, that, with so much of his music available in this one location, his prodigious ability occasionally produces a uniformity of sound if one is not listening closely. This would be a serious mistake since the man has countless original ideas that command attention.

Freedom Song is not essential Oscar Peterson. For that listen to either "Night Train" or "Trio Plus One". But this recording is excellent jazz nonetheless and deserves to be heard.

© 2001 - Ron Saranich