Resonance Big Band: Plays Tribute to Oscar Peterson (2009)

Ken Dryden

Columnist since 2000

Ken has collected jazz for over three decades and been a jazz journalist since 1988.

Recent articles (222 total)

Published: June 2, 2009

Resonance Big Band: Plays Tribute to Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson was a jazz giant whose career spanned from the late '40s until not long before his death in late 2007. When Resonance owner George Klabin conceived this big band tribute, he made an unusual choice: Marian Petrescu, a Rumanian native, who had appeared as a sideman on guitarist Andreas Oberg's earlier CD for the label. Klabin heard the Peterson influence in Petrescu's playing and thought it would fit in with the collection of West Coast all-stars, along with Oberg, that he hired for the sessions.

Two possible mistakes were avoided. For the most part, standards readily identified with Peterson's regular repertoire were bypassed in favor of less frequently explored pieces. Also, Petrescu's technique is similar to Peterson's but he doesn't attempt to recreate the master's touch, though he enjoys his solo romp through the pianist's "A Little Jazz Exercise."

A spry chart of Ray Brown's "Waltzing is Hip" (erroneously credited to Peterson) alternates the focus between Petrescu and the band, with a few breaks for drummer Joe La Barbera (of Bill Evans' final trio). Peterson's ballad "L'Impossible" is an overlooked gem from the mid '60s, featuring Petrescu's bluesy, intricate solo with the horns intermittently in the background. The medley of Peterson's gospel-flavored "Hymn to Freedom" and a swinging take of "John Brown's Body" (inspired by "The Battle Hymn of the Republic") find the band afire, with Oberg scatting in unison with his guitar on the latter. The musicians sizzle in the peppy interpretation of Oscar Pettiford's classic bop vehicle "Tricotism."

Arrangements are by Bill Cunliffe, Claus Ogerman and Kuno Schmid, who each conducted their respective charts, and a brief DVD documentary is included, providing some insight into the creative process. A follow-up recording is easily merited.

Track Listing: Waltzing is Hip; L'Impossible; Little Girl Blue; Down Here on the Ground; Medley: Hymn to Freedom/John Brown's Body; Sally's Tomato; Tricotism; Greensleeves; Bossa Beguine; West Side Story Medley; A Little Jazz Exercise.

Personnel: Marian Petrescu: piano; Andreas Oberg: electric guitar; David Stone: bass; Joe La Barbera: drums; Bob Sheppard: reeds/flutes; Steve Wilkerson: reeds/flutes; Brian Scanlon: reeds/flutes; Keith Fiddmont: reeds/flutes; Tom Peterson: reeds/flutes; Willie Murillo: trumpet/flugelhorn; Larry Lunetta: trumpet/flugelhorn; Bob Summers: trumpet/flugelhorn; Larry Hall: trumpet/flugelhorn; Andy Martin: trombone; Bob McChesney: trombone; Wendell Kelly; Bill Reichenbach: trombone, tuba; Pierre Paul: Cabasa; Bill Cunliffe: arranger, conductor; Kuno Schmid: arranger, conductor; Claus Ogerman: arranger, conductor; Peter Kent: strings; Giovanna Clayton: strings; Belinda Broughton: strings; Jessica Van Velzen: strings.

Record Label: Resonance Records
Style: Big Band