Oscar Peterson – My Favorite Instrument

Oscar Peterson – My Favorite Instrument

Recorded in April 1968 at Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer's private studio in Villingen, West Germany, My Favorite Instrument is one of the most intimate and revealing recordings in Oscar Peterson's remarkable catalogue. Released by MPS as the fourth volume of the acclaimed Exclusively For My Friends series, it is particularly notable as Peterson's first full album of unaccompanied solo piano.

Without a rhythm section or other musicians alongside him, Peterson is completely free to explore the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of nine carefully chosen standards. The album opens with George and Ira Gershwin's "Someone To Watch Over Me", before moving into the energetic "Perdido" and an expansive interpretation of "Body And Soul". The performances reveal both Peterson's extraordinary technical ability and his sensitivity as a solo pianist.

"Perdido" is one of the album's most exhilarating performances, with Peterson attacking the tune with the rhythmic intensity and dazzling runs for which he was famous. "Bye, Bye Blackbird" becomes an extended showcase for improvisation, while the much shorter "Lulu's Back In Town" demonstrates his ability to create an entire musical statement in just a couple of minutes.

The quieter side of Peterson is equally compelling. "Who Can I Turn To" receives a thoughtful, introspective treatment, while "Little Girl Blue" is one of the album's most beautiful performances, revealing a lyrical and deeply expressive side to his playing. "I Should Care" and "Body And Soul" further demonstrate how Peterson could take familiar standards and completely personalise them through phrasing, dynamics and harmonic invention.

The album closes with Billy Strayhorn's "Take The 'A' Train", bringing the programme back to the world of swing and the jazz tradition that shaped Peterson. Throughout the record, the superb recording conditions of Brunner-Schwer's studio allow the piano to sound remarkably immediate and detailed, making this an especially rewarding album for anyone who appreciates the sound and artistry of solo jazz piano.

For collectors of Oscar Peterson, MPS Records, piano jazz and classic 1960s jazz vinyl, My Favorite Instrument is an essential release. It captures one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time without accompaniment, moving effortlessly between bebop, swing, ballad playing and the Great American Songbook. The combination of "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Perdido", "Bye, Bye Blackbird", "Little Girl Blue" and "Take The 'A' Train" makes this a particularly important Peterson recording and a standout in the Exclusively For My Friends series.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Someone To Watch Over Me – 4:10
2. Perdido – 6:10
3. Body And Soul – 4:28
4. Who Can I Turn To – 4:53

Side B

1. Bye, Bye Blackbird – 4:50
2. I Should Care – 4:42
3. Lulu's Back In Town – 2:00
4. Little Girl Blue – 6:02
5. Take The "A" Train – 2:37