Toni Harper - Toni Harper with The Oscar Peterson Quartet (2012)
Toni Harper - Toni Harper with The Oscar Peterson Quartet (2012)
With The Oscar Peterson Quartet 01. Can't We Be Friends (3:30) 02. I Could Write a Book (2:39) 03. Gone with the Wind (2:24) 04. Singin' in the Rain (2:54) 05. Love for Sale (5:37) 06. Just a-Sittin' and a-Rockin' (3:25) 07. A Foggy Day (3:05) 08. You Don't Know What Love Is (2:38) 09. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (4:22) 10. Little Girl Blue (3:27) 11. You Took Advantage of Me (2:41) 12. Like Someone in Love (4:26) Oscar Peterson (piano) Herb Ellis (guitar) Ray Brown (b) Alvin Stoller (d). Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, December 29, 1955, and January 6, 1956 With Dizzy Gliespie and His Orchestra 13. Taking a Chance on Love (2:13) 14. Play Me the Blues (2:55) Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Edison (trumpet) Melba Liston (trombone) Willie Smith (alto saxophone) Curtis Amy (tenor saxophone) Clyde Dunn (baritone saxophone) Eddie Beal (piano) George Bledsoe (bass) Albert Bartee (drums). Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, November 8, 1955 With The Buddy Bregman Orchestra 15. Love Is a Wonderful Thing (2:47) 16. I Telephoned, I Telegraphed (2:46) 17. We've Got to Live, Got to Grow (2:45) 18. My Memory Book (3:01) Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard, Lloyd Ulyate, Si Zentner (trombone) Wilbur Schwartz, Maurice Stein, Ted Nash, Bob Cooper, Dale Issenhuth (saxes & woodwinds) Paul Smith (piano) Barney Kessel (guitar) Joe Mondragon (bass) Alvin Stoller (drums) Plus string section (8 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, harp) added on tracks #15 and 18. Recorded at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, February 23, 1956 With Eddie Beal Trio 19. Them There Eyes (1:43) 20. Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered) (2:19) Eddie Beal (piano) Red Mitchell (bass) Frank Capp (drums, percussion). Recorded at ABC Studios, Stars of Jazz TV show, February 18, 1957 With Marty Paich Orchestra 21. Petals on the Pond (2:57) Dominick Fera, Lurie Mitchell, Bud Shank (clarinet) Jimmy Rowles (piano, celeste) Bill Pitman (guitar) Joe Mondragon (bass) Mel Lewis (d) 10 violins; 4 violas; 4 cellos, Kathryn Julye, harp. Recorded at R.C.A. Victor Studios, Hollywood, April 29, 1960
In 1956, when Toni Harper was just eighteen years old, she made her first album for Norman Granzs Verve, the label he had started earlier that year.
For her debut Harper, who had already made an impact as an almostbaby singer, was backed by none other than Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, and Alvin Stoller. On display were all the traits that had made her a success: a good voice, a knack for swing, and brilliant intonation. She had traces of Sarah Vaughan in her singing, without ever becoming derivative or getting stuck in any one style.
All I want now, she said, is to become a good, versatile singer. To underline that, this fine release also includes two recordings she did with Dizzy Gillespie, four tunes issued on two singles with an orchestra under the direction of Buddy Bregman; two tracks from her appearance on the TV show Stars of Jazz, and one last song arranged and conducted by Marty Paich - a handful of great performances by an outstanding singer. ---freshsoundrecords.com
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