CD review: Stan Getz, Bengt Hallberg, & Others – Oscar Pettiford Memorial Concert – 1960 – 2024: Video, CD cover

American bassist Oscar Pettiford left our planet on the other side of the Atlantic – after just a few years of making some big waves on the European scene, where this tribute to his genius was recorded in 1960!

The material here appears for the first time – and the bulk of the set features tremendous performances from very hip European groups who were following in the legacy of modern jazz that Pettiford and some of his generation helped unlock on the scene.

The set begins with a trio that includes pianist Finn Savery and bassist Erik Moseholm, on titles that include “Bohemia After Dark” and “Willow Weep For Me”. Baritone saxophonist Max Bruel leads a quartet through a reading of his own “Blues For Oscar” – followed by four tracks from the trio of pianist Bengt Hallberg, one with vocals from Alice Babs – titles that include “Blues By Alice” and “Dinah”.

Next is the legendary Jazz Quintet 60 – with Allan Botschinsky on trumpet, Bent Jaedig on tenor, and Bent Axen on piano – doing their renditions of Pettiford tunes “Why Not That’s What” and “Blues In The Closet”.

Vibist Louis Hjulmand follows in a quartet with pianist Finn Savery on the Pettiford tune “Now See How You Are” – then the great Stan Getz comes in to finish things off in a quartet with Bengt Hallberg’s trio – serving up takes of “Without A Song”, “Get Happy”, “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most”, and “Nobody’s Sweetheart”. © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.

1. Erik Moseholm Trio – Bohemia After Dark
2. Erik Moseholm Trio – Willow Weep For Me
3. Erik Moseholm Trio – Swingin’ till The Girls Come Home
4. Max Bruel Quartet – Blues For Oscar
5. Bengt Hallberg Trio – Dinah
6. Alice Babs – Blue Skies
7. Alice Babs – Blues By Alice
8. Alice Babs & Svend Asmussen – The Lady’s In Love With You
9. Jazz Quintet ’60 – Why Not? That’s What
10. Jazz Quintet ’60 – Blues In The Closet
11. Louis Hjulmand – Now See How You Are
12. Stan Getz Quartet – Nobody’s Sweetheart
13. Stan Getz Quartet – Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
14. Stan Getz Quartet – Get Happy
15. Stan Getz Quartet – Without A Song