Oscar Peterson - The Excellence Series: Romance - The Vocal Styling Of Oscar Peterson (Digital Remaster 2024)

Over a decade prior to Oscar Peterson's 1965 vocal tribute to Nat King Cole, the pianist recorded a series of vocal numbers (over three sessions between 1952 and 1954) for Verve, accompanied by his regular trio (bassist Ray Brown and either Barney Kessel or Herb Ellis on guitar). Peterson's interpretations of the dozen standards, all ballads, are generally slow. His vocals are warm and friendly, though they lack the variety of an established singer. His emphasis is more on his singing than his piano, which is rather conservative when compared to his instrumental recordings. His swinging treatment of "I Hear Music" is a bit brisker than most of the other tracks, with both the leader and Kessel taking solos. This obscure LP is lesser known than With Respect to Nat but Peterson fans are advised to look for it, as they will enjoy him in a more relaxed setting. The album was reissued in Europe during the 1980s but it will be fairly difficult to find.
“I like the way Oscar sings standards, and when I am of a mind to hear them in a pop groove, I wish he'd sing more often. You certainly can't fault his time or intonation, nor at any occasion, his intelligence.” Nat Hentoff (1957)
The mastery of Oscar Peterson at the piano is unquestioned. Now to top that off he chose not to pursue it but he could have had a dual career like George Benson, not only as a great instrumentalist, but a great Jazz Vocalist. Oscar sounds remarkably close to Nat King Cole. Having your own sound is really what Jazz is all about so he the path of being an astounding pianist inspired by his hero Art Tatum!