The Modern Jazz Quartet And The Oscar Peterson Trio At The Opera House (1957) {2013 Japan Jazz The Best Series 24-bit Remaster UCCU-9945}

The Modern Jazz Quartet make a rare appearance on Verve Records in the 50s – splitting half the album here with the classic Oscar Peterson Trio! The live performance was recorded in Chicago, and definitely has the MJQ working in a looser vibe than on some of their late 50s recordings for Atlantic – a bit more open and swinging, in a Verve mode – with some of the bop inspiration that first showed up on their early Prestige recordings – as you’ll hear on the cuts “Now’s The Time”, “Round Midnight”, and “D&E Blues”. The second half of the record features live material from Oscar Peterson’s hip group with Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on bass – that great drum-less lineup that really lets Oscar take off on piano – on tunes that include “Big Fat Mama”, “Should I Love You”, “Indiana”, and “Elevation”.

Personnel:
1~3:
Milt Jackson – vibraphone
John Lewis – piano
Percy Heath – bass
Connie Kay – drums

4~8:
Oscar Peterson – piano
Herb Ellis – guitar
Ray Brown – bass

tracklist:
01 – D & E
02 – Now’s The Time
03 – ‘Round Midnight
04 – Should I Love You
05 – Big Fat Mama
06 – Back Home Again In Indiana
07 – Joy Spring
08 – Elevation