Freedom Song - The Oscar Peterson Big 4 in Japan '82 (1983)

"This two-CD set finds Peterson leading a quartet that employs Joe Pass (g), Martin Drew (d), and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b). There are no dull or weak moments; the bop-oriented quartet soars on material that ranges from Walter Donaldson's "You Look Good to Me" and Charlie Parker's "Now's the Time" to Peterson's own "The Fallen Warrior," which he dedicates to freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. At the time, Mandela was still in prison and we could only dream about a world in which he was president of South Africa. Not all of the musicians are present on all of the songs, which is a good thing because it makes the concert less predictable. Peterson plays unaccompanied solo piano on Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" and a medley of Michel Legrand's "Watch What Happens" and pianist Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debby," while Pass is by himself on "Easy Living." And bassist Pedersen is the lone wolf on the brief "Future Child." A consistently rewarding document of his 1982 visit to Japan." (Alex Henderson, Allmusic)

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