Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford was (along with Charles Mingus) the top bassist of the 1945-1960 period, and the successor to the late Jimmy Blanton. In addition, he was the first major jazz soloist on the cello. A bop pioneer, it would have been very interesting to hear what Pettiford would have done during the avant-garde '60s if he had not died unexpectedly in 1960. After starting on piano, Pettiford switched to bass when he was 14 and played in a family band. He played with Charlie Barnet's band in 1942 as one of two bassists (the other was Chubby Jackson) and then hit the big time in 1943, participating on Coleman Hawkins' famous "The Man I Love" session; he also recorded with Earl Hines and Ben Webster during this period. Pettiford co-led an early bop group with Dizzy Gillespie in 1944, and in 1945 went with Coleman Hawkins to the West Coast, appearing on one song in the film The Crimson Canary with Hawkins and Howard McGhee. Pettiford was part of Duke Ellington's orchestra during much of 1945-1948 (fulfilling his role as the next step beyond Jimmy Blanton), and worked with Woody Herman in 1949. Throughout the 1950s, he mostly worked as a leader (on bass and occasional cello), although he appeared on many records both as a sideman and a leader, including with Thelonious Monk in 1955-1956. After going to Europe in 1958, he settled in Copenhagen where he worked with local musicians, plus Stan Getz, Bud Powell, and Kenny Clarke. Among Pettiford's better-known compositions are "Tricotism," "Laverne Walk," "Bohemia After Dark," and "Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home."
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Complete Big Band Studio Recordings
Jazz - Released by Lone Hill Jazz on 17 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bix, Duke, Fats and More
Jazz - Released by Ascension Records on 8 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classic Albums: 1953-1960
Bebop - Released by Tritone on 3 Nov 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Complete Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Plenty Jazz Records on 5 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Hi-Fi (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 3 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra: Deep Passion
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 11 May 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Manhattan Jazz Septette
Jazz - Released by Lone Hill Jazz on 29 Jun 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Jazz Festival All-Stars
Jazz - Released by Hallmark on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Manhattan Jazz Septette (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Plenty Jazz Records on 29 Jun 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Accent on Trumpet
Ernie Royal, Billy Taylor, Oscar Pettiford, James Moody, Keny Clarke
Jazz - Released by Fresh Sound Records on 1 Feb 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Oscar Pettiford Sextet (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 3 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music Minus One, Vol. 2: A Rhythm Background Record for Any Musician or Vocalist
Don Abney, Jimmy Raney, Oscar Pettiford
Jazz - Released by Branditmusic on 9 May 1951
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet
Jazz - Released by Hallmark on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bohemia After Dark
Jazz - Released by Marylebone Records on 6 Dec 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Oscar Pettiford Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Underground Inside Records on 24 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Oscar Pettiford and His Jazz All Stars (Recordings of 1952 & 1953)
Pop - Released by Jazz Classics on 25 Oct 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Big Band Studio Recordings
Jazz - Released by Ascension Records on 17 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo