Oscar Peterson Trio - West Side Story

COMPLETE ALBUM + 1 BONUS TRACK - 180-gram VIRGIN VINYL - LIMITED EDITION

West Side Story was a bit of an unusual session for several reasons. First, the popularity of both the Broadway musical and the film version that followed meant that there were many records being made of its music. Second, rather than 'woodshedding' on the selections prior to entering the studio, the Oscar Peterson Trio spontaneously created impressions of the musical's themes on the spot. - Oscar Peterson Trio

Something's Coming seems like a series of vignettes, constantly shifting its mood, as if moving from one scene to the next. Ray Brown plays arco bass behind Peterson in the lovely Somewhere, while the feeling to Jet Song is very hip in the trio's hands. The snappy interplay between the musicians in the brisk setting of Tonight turns it into a swinger. Maria initially has a light, dreamy quality, though it evolves into a solid groove. The romp through I Feel Pretty is full of humour, while the CD closes with a brief reprise of several themes from the musical to wrap the session with a flourish.AllMusic, Ken Dryden