Search - Norman Granz Jazz in Montreux Presents Oscar Peterson Solo '75 on DVD

A Must Have for all jazz fans and serious piano music lover

Warren Wen | 04/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here in this DVD you can appreciate Oscar Peterson at his prime. The performance is just brillant and inspiring as always--jazz virtuoso piano as good as it gets indeed.

The camera captured his finger works at amazing pace and grace form different angles. The picture quality is not as sharp as Trio '77 DVD but you soon forget about it once the music starts. Both Trio '77 and Solo '75 are supreme performance but in solo'75 you really can see how good his left hand is compared to most other jazz pianists. By the way,the CD "Solo: Live" is another must have for all O.P fans as Oscar Peterson really plays when doing the one man show. This is also the only video footage I have seen so far including the Blues Etude--one of his early composition( in the last segment of the show but did not mentioned in the song title).

I am still waiting for the release of Oscar Peterson In Tokyo(1983)previously released by Pioneer Laser Disc. That will be the show to watch--with Joe Pass,Niels Pedersen and Martin Drew.
But berfore that, get both 1975 and 1977 show."

Oscar Peterson at His Best

Vic Chester | Bridgewater NJ | 09/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just received the Oscar Peterson Trio '77 DVD which is part of the Norman Granz Jazz In Montreux series. I must admit at first I was skeptical about what I would be receiving for a price of under $10. Well, I am more than pleased with this excellent representation of Oscar during his prime years. The video starts with three solo selections by Oscar, a very neat arrangment of Falling in Love with Love (unlike recent recordings with the quartet), Old Folks and Indiana. The master of the ivory's is then joined by not one but two of the finest bass players around, Niels Pedersen and the late Ray Brown. Each take sections on the remaing six tracks along with Oscar's lightening fast playing.

If you are an Oscar fan you will appreicate the left hand work performed in stride fashion and the 32nd or perhaps 64h note playing by the right hand. There is no drummer on these recordings and with the amount of music generated by Oscar, Ray and Niels it's not missed.

I highly recommend this addtion to your OP collection."

Frustrated with the cameraman

Flavio Cipparrone | Sao Paulo, Brasil | 06/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Let me explain:
Oscar Peterson's performance = 10
Niels Pedersen's performance = 10
Ray Brown's performance = 10

So why only 3 stars and what the cause of the frustration?

Answer: The camera never focused the keyboard from above and only sometimes captured Oscar's hands, that is, it did not capture the best of the show.

Therefore, if you are interested only on the bassists performances this DVD is fine, but if you would like to view what Oscar Peterson does on the piano, this DVD is almost equivalent to listening the vynil album I have since many years ago.

Regrettable, my friends. The producers lost the opportunity to register Oscar Peterson (The Franz Liszt of the Jazz) at his best, something they can not correct. It is sad but it is impossible. If you had made a DVD of Franz Liszt would you only capture his face and not his hands?

After all, what is the purpose of a DVD?
If you will not capture Oscar's hands in action, make a good CD and attach some pictures!

It is difficult for me to rate anything of Oscar Peterson with less than 5 stars, but I should give -5 stars to the responsible for the takes.

Buy anyway because it is cheap. But if you want to view Oscar's unbeatable technique in action the 1975 DVD is the right place.
"

I was surprised at the price too.

superfly | austin, tx | 12/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i got a ton of jazz and prog dvds for xmas and this is by far the best of the lot. i had low expectations because of 2 bass players. that just seemed stupid to me, but trust me youll love this. the way the 2 basses are used is really logical and at no point are both playing on top of each other(except one short part that is not weird or lame sounding at all). i dont think ive ever heard oscar lay down the law like he does on this video. when i saw its just $10 i really couldnt believe it. this thing is gold."