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From the opening flutes to the last flush of piano and orchestra, this is smooth-swinging jazz par excellence. Pairing Nelson Riddle with Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, Ed Thigpen on drums, and small orchestra was an inspired decision. Peterson and Riddle constituted a mutual admiration society, and so it seemed only a matter of time before they made a record, which they did in the fall of 1963. At the time, the Oscar Peterson Trio was arguably the foremost jazz group around, and Riddle the best arranger in the business. After seeing the Trio perform at the London House in Chicago (now defunct), Riddle met with Peterson to discuss how Peterson’s pianistics could be presented in a setting similar to the sound of the old Claude Thornhill band, whom both admired.
The first half of the album (tracks 1-5) has the Oscar Peterson Trio backed by Riddle’s symphonic setting of ten cellos, five French horses, five flutes, a percussionist, and a harpist. The second half (tracks 6-10) has the Trio backed by a swinging band with strings format.
“I had always admired Oscar’s dexterity,” admitted Riddle, “his ‘star power’ way of cascading note upon note in a dazzling display of technique that impressed many concert pianists.” Said Peterson: “When we went into the studio I was a little bit nervous because the Trio hadn’t recorded with a big orchestra in several years.” Not to worry. The three days in the studio were magical. “I really liked the way he arranged ‘Someday My Prince Will Come In,” said Peterson. Riddle concurred that it was his favorite cut on the album as well. “(It) played more slowly than most people would consider tasteful, but, to my way of thinking, permitted Oscar to weave a spell the likes of which I’ve seldom heard from him.”
Five stars for an ideal partnership of musician and arranger, of jazz trio and orchestra, of music that never wears out its welcome. Good full sound.
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