Since five of the songs are played by both groups, a comparison between the two units is interesting.“ (Scott Yanow, AMG) The results are not innovative or unique, but they are tasteful and reasonably enjoyable. The Songbook series found Peterson playing concise (around three-minute) versions of tunes, and he always kept the melody in the forefront. The earlier date matches the brilliant Peterson with guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Ray Brown, while the 1959 session has Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. Both of his George Gershwin projects (one from 1952 and the other from 1959) have been reissued in full on this single CD. „In what was a giant undertaking (even for producer Norman Granz), pianist Oscar Peterson recorded ten Songbook albums during 1952-1954 and when his trio changed, nine more in 1959. The contrast is apparent in the two versions of 'It Ain't Necessarily So.' On both sessions, the emphasis is on the tunes, and Peterson sparkles on uptempos and ballads alike.“ The later group is more conventional, but it sometimes draws meatier, more forceful playing from an older Peterson. The earlier group drew its conception from the Nat 'King' Cole trio, a lightly swinging blend that benefits from a third highly adept soloist in Kessel. As with Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Songbook, this disc compiles both sessions, the earlier one with a trio of guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Ray Brown, the later one with Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. „Oscar Peterson made two trips through the Gershwin repertoire, one in 1952 and another in 1959 after the advent of stereo. Peterson had recorded many of the pieces for his 1952 album Oscar Peterson Plays George Gershwin. Oscar Peterson Plays the George Gershwin Songbook is a 1959 album by pianist Oscar Peterson of compositions written by George Gershwin. Info for Oscar Peterson Plays The George Gershwin Song Book (High Definition Remaster 2023)
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