Oscar Peterson, Stephane Grappelli – Skol (1982) [Reissue 2004] {SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/96kHz}

Skol is one of the great cooperative sessions among jazz recordings. Swinging and fellow feeling, not leadership or stardom, were the primary considerations when Norman Granz put together in concert Oscar Peterson, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Pass, Mickey Roker, and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen.

Pianist Oscar Peterson and violinist Stephane Grappelli meet up for this Scandinavian concert. The “backup” crew (guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Niels Pedersen, and drummer Mickey Roker) isn’t too bad either. In addition to a closing blues (which is highlighted by tradeoffs from Peterson and Grappelli), the quintet performs five veteran standards with creativity and swing.

The musicians were Danish, American, French, and Canadian, and the international language at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens that night was jazz. In Django Reinhardt’s “Nuages,” with its tender solos by Pass, Grappelli, and Peterson, there are intimations of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France that Grappelli led with Reinhardt in the 1930s. Grappelli soloed at greater length than he customarily did in studio recordings, Peterson with notable restraint and, at the same time, intensity. Pass and Ørsted Pedersen had a great night. Roker, as always, supplied inspiration and perfect time. Standards—including the previously unreleased selections “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Solitude,” and “I Got Rhythm”—make up the repertoire, except for the spontaneous blues that gives the album its name.

Tracklist:
01. Nuages
02. How About You
03. Someone to Watch Over Me
04. Makin’ Whoopee
05. That’s All
06. Skol Blues

Recorded on July 6, 1979 in Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Personnel
Oscar Peterson – piano
Stéphane Grappelli – violin
Joe Pass – guitar
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – double bass
Mickey Roker – drums

SACD ISO

0scarPeters0nStephaneGrappelliSk0l1982Reissue2004SACDIS0.rar

FLAC 24bit/96kHz

0scarPeters0nStephaneGrappelliSk0l1982Reissue2004FLAC2496.rar