Swinging with Clark Terry: Unpacking the Timeless Groove of Oscar Peterson Trio + One

Oscar Peterson: Oscar Peterson Trio + One LP cover

Oscar Peterson: Oscar Peterson Trio + One is released.

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# Allmusic 5/5 stars

Oscar Peterson Trio + One is an album by Oscar Peterson featuring Clark Terry, released in September 1964.

PERSONNEL

Clark Terry – flugelhorn

Oscar Peterson – piano

Ray Brown – double bass

Ed Thigpen – drums

SESSION

Recorded February 26, 1964 at RCA Studios, Toronto

When Oscar Peterson’s contract with Verve was terminated at the beginning of 1964, Mercury’s producers and owners endeavored to find new openings for Oscar Peterson who was committed to the piano trio. Among them was an LP of songs with Nat King Cole numbers scored for big band, the only long composition by Peterson - a reminiscence of his Canadian native country, a Latin album, and the present meet-up with Clark Terry. Filled with mutual respect, with a complete understanding of one another’s humour, and deliciously swinging without being obtrusive, these ten numbers will get your feet tapping and your fingers snapping.

"This album was basically my idea; it was cut with the purpose in mind of bringing together the Trio, naturally, and Clark Terry, who I feel very strongly about, musically."

—Oscar Peterson [from the original LP back cover]

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CASH BOX, October 3, 1964

OSCAR PETERSON TRIO + ONE CLARK TERRY-Mercury SR 60975 Vet jazz trumpeter Clark Terry teams up will the closely-knit Oscar Peterson Trio on this interesting varied set of melody ballads and lively uptempo rockers. Neither Terry nor Peterson attempt to grab the solo spotlight. Instead, eau man complements as they form a cohesive mainstream musical unit on "Brotherhood Of Man "Jim" and "I Want A Little Girl." Jazzophiles should really dig it.

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REVIEW of Oscar Peterson Trio + One

by Stephen Cook, allmusic

Some guest soloists get overshadowed by Oscar Peterson's technical prowess, while others meet him halfway with fireworks of their own; trumpeter Clark Terry lands in the latter camp on this fine 1964 session. With drummer Ed Thigpen and bassist Ray Brown providing solid support, the two soloists come off as intimate friends over the course of the album's ten ballad and blues numbers. And while Peterson shows myriad moods, from Ellington's impressionism on slow cuts like "They Didn't Believe Me" to fleet, single-line madness on his own "Squeaky's Blues," Terry goes in for blues and the blowzy on originals like "Mumbles" and "Incoherent Blues"; the trumpeter even airs out some of his singularly rambling and wonderful scat singing in the process. Other highlights include the rarely covered ballad "Jim" and the even more obscure "Brotherhood of Man" from the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. A very engaging and enjoyable disc.

TRACKS:

Side one

"Brotherhood of Man" (Frank Loesser) – 3:32

"Jim" (Caesar Petrillo, Milton Samuels, Nelson Shawn) – 3:01

"Blues for Smedley" (Oscar Peterson) – 6:56

"Roundalay" (Peterson) – 3:55

"Mumbles" (Clark Terry) – 2:01

Side two

"Mack the Knife" (Marc Blitzstein, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill) – 5:16

"They Didn't Believe Me" (Jerome Kern, Herbert Reynolds) – 4:21

"Squeaky's Blues" (Peterson) – 3:28

"I Want a Little Girl" (Murray Mencher, Billy Moll) – 5:10

"Incoherent Blues" (Clark Terry) – 2:42