When Opposite PIANISTS Attract | Oscar Peterson and Count Basie

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[@gqwarren]

We're lucky that famous recording and album exists. I agree that Oscar Peterson is the GOAT, but Count Basie is 20 years his senior and is a completely different generation of playing. It was truly fascinating to have them duel on that tune for sure!

[@iamgerg]

Less a duel than an acoustic juggling session with each one feeding the other notes.

[@TheUnderscore_]

@@iamgergStrangely, "piano duel" seems to have a meaning akin to "piano duet" nowadays...

[@svensvensson6705]

Basie has never in his life been in the way when comping. He compliments with every move he does. Listen to Oscar Peterson and and Basie playing After You've gone.

[@gqwarren]

@@TheUnderscore_ it's a silly pop culture thing. In jazz it's an open solo with two pianos 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@CarlosEsquivel71]

I think the same, Oscar is the GOAT. But at the same time, I know one thing: Oscar stopped playing piano for some weeks after the first time he saw Art Tatum playing. Oscar felt intimidated by Art Tatum at the point he rarely played piano in the presence of him. Tatum is too distant in time to me, so it is difficult for me to have an informed oppinion about him, but I can't imagine how good he was if Oscar had thoose feelings about him.

[@mallygeedkm]

Count Basie was a very motif driven pianist. He would take an idea and run with it. It may seem repetitive but it’s really just to have the theme in your head so when he references it later it’s like a joke.

[@pierreolivierlepage664]

That. A Count Basie solo does feel a lot like a comedian ending his number with a payoff of the first jokes of his set.

[@jorgeramos2125]

well, repetition legitimizes

[@thewaldfe9763]

To me, his playing sounds a lot like ragtime/boogie style. Peterson sounds more beboppy.

[@subsonicbass]

Repetition legitimizes

[@MrNikolidas]

Repetition legitimises **sips tea**

[@danielfonseca2223]

You’re so good at getting people to appreciate music. You make the hard stuff easy to grasp, and the easy stuff hard to hate. Love this channel

[@rhetriver]

Also, Oscar Peterson was a very fine singer. In an interview, he said he didn't sing much because he sounded a lot like Nat King Cole and he didn't want people to think he was copying him.

[@yungrobot]

Oscar has a whole album of Nat’s songs that he sings on that is fantastic.

[@spencercook4857]

And Nat King Cole was really good at piano.

[@rhetriver]

@@spencercook4857 Indeed. In fact for me, as much as I appreciate his singing, I wish he had played more straight piano. I heard that he said people paid to hear him sing, so he didn't want to disappoint them. Which I understand, but still.

[@baronmeduse]

@@spencercook4857 And in fact a model for not only Peterson, but others.

[@baronmeduse]

Cole used to tell a joke, which was probably true, he said: 'I promised Oscar I wouldn't play piano if he agreed not to sing.'

[@seanjkenrick6593]

Between the age of 6 and 14 my family lived next door to Count Basie and we were very good friends, my sister and I called him Uncle Bill. One of the stories told by my mother was after uncle Bill had a heart attack and was unable to lead the orchestra, My mother accompanied uncle Bill to watch as Oscar Peterson led the orchestra in his place. Whilst playing, Bill leaned over to my mother and said, “I wish I could play like that.”

[@agamemnonpadar5706]

What a cool story. To see Basie live with the band are two highlights of my youth. Still hear Basie each day. Hope you are well. All best

[@seanjkenrick6593]

@@agamemnonpadar5706 The last time I saw uncle Bill was in 1983, less than a year before he passed. He was appearing in San Francisco, I don’t remember the name of the club I’m pretty pretty sure it was on O’Farrell Street. At the time I was with my mother, who was visiting. He was so pleased to see us and although he was now wheelchair bound he still had that sparkle in his eye, I miss him greatly.

[@toddbernstein3407]

Props need to be given to that smokin' rhythm section! Those guys are killing it keeping up with Oscar Peterson and Count Basie.

[@lt_johnmcclane]

Absolutely! The bassist and drummer are killin it

[@JeremyForTheWin]

i mean it's Ray Brown so

[@ralphmunn1685]

I had the privilege of seeing Bill Basie lead his orchestra very late in his life. After they played a few numbers with someone else at the piano, The Count was wheeled out in a wheelchair and lifted onto the bench, and I thought, "Geez, I guess I'm too late for his best..." Then he started to play, and he blew the doors off the place! Oh, and he also brought along a girl singer, Ella Somebody-or-Other. YUP. And now I'm remembering through tears! ❤🙏❤🙏❤

[@germansnowman]

Thanks for sharing. One of my biggest regrets is missing an Oscar Peterson concert while he was on his last (?) international tour in Germany. I even had free entry as a student …

[@NicWeaverMusic]

Ella Fitzgerald?

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

Peterson and those of his era are over my head, but Basie thrills me. So much melody, all the time.

[@johnwilcox3322]

This video should be required viewing for school music appreciation classes as an example of one of the many exciting ways we engage with the art of music.

[@Gbutler777]

This is fascinating, but your enthusiasm and expressions as you listened was the best part!

[@rebanelson607]

My thoughts exactly!

[@eliecanetti]

Wonderful that you highlighted this album. I was in high school in 1975 and my band teacher was obsessed with everything Basie. We did lots of Basie charts and our teacher was always trying to get us to play like Basie's band. At the same time all the pianists in the band (there were 3 of us that traded off) idolized Oscar (I mean, duh!). So this album was a revelation to us. I guess the instruction worked pretty well because about half a dozen people in the band became professional musicians (including Eric Marienthal, who later played with Chick Corea). I do seem to recall an interview with Oscar, by the way, where he said he used to engage in cutting contests (it may have been his Piano Jazz disc with Marian McPartland), but I'm sure he had way too much respect for Basie to do that to him. Amazingly, growing up near Disneyland, we used to go see Basie's band play there and there would be, maybe, 50 people in the audience, so we could sit about 15 feet from the great man.

[@rebanelson607]

I first heard Oscar on Piano Jazz and became fascinated by jazz piano. Marian McPartland was such a pro. And I remember her commenting on the ease with which Oscar could play tenths.

[@eliecanetti]

@@rebanelson607 that whole Marian McPartland series is wonderful. Also love the ones with Bill Evans and Elvis Costello (Not at the same time, of course).

[@drdavidtbrown]

I had a similar experience at Disneyland in the late 1970s with Les Brown and his Band of Renown. There were perhaps 10 of us listening to incredible big band arrangements being played by some of the world's best session musicians... and most of the park visitors were more concerned with popcorn and souvenirs. I spoke with Les Brown between numbers, and I almost felt sorry for him because his band's incredible artistry was simply being ignored. Thus was their playbook at the time: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpraeJlnpNh2aKM

[@animeprincess98]

lol what Eric marienthal played in the basie band? dude does everything

[@maxkeenlyside]

The "classic Count Basie lines" in the first few minutes are Basie heavily channelling Fats Waller (who learned tricks/textures from James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Luckey Roberts et al. Jazz traditions are so incredible.) Great video as always, Charles!!

[@noneyabid]

That has long been one of my favorite jazz albums. I was so happy to see this video! The single repeated note entrance of Oscar's solo on "Lester Leaps In" is one of my favorite all time music moments. ♥

[@maximedufour5132]

I'm sooooo happy to see this video! One of my all time favorite bits of content on the internet is this show Oscar Peterson did where he invites musical guests to play with him. There's one with Joe Pass and then Count Basie, and it's just the most wonderful mix of incredible musical geniuses with their great characters shining through in the interviews. I find myself going back to watching the whole video at least once every 6 months!

[@LizzieBravado]

The live show with the two of them is incredible. Peterson is shy and retiring and Basie is mischievous, especially when goading Peterson to play like Art Tatum.

[@marcorval]

For a moment i thought the stride section was Basie's because it sounded a lot more traditional than the type of stride Oscar usually played.

[@giannidiiullo8199]

Peterson was a virtuoso as Tatum or Horowitz, but Basie was, as Armstrong...the Jazz! Incredible session. God bless Them.

[@daullee939]

I had to learn Count Basie’s solo on The Kid from Red Bank last year for big band. While I’ve transcribed OP’s solos before, I had more trouble with the Kid from Red Bank because I’m not as used to playing Basie’s technical ragtime lines as opposed to Oscar Peterson’s classically-trained (on the technical level) lines

[@mauriceee1434]

I love jazz. Your excitement in explaining it is very entertaining.

[@chrisb3k1]

As a guitar player...I've always thought of Oscar as the best musician I've ever heard. He leaves me in awe more than any other.

[@josevi5835]

Me too

[@mdue72]

Guitarist here, his music drops my jaw too

[@JoshWalshMusic]

This is one of my go-to happy days albums. Two incredible musicians in their own unique ways. Thanks for putting your spotlight on it.

[@cooldebt]

You are right Charles - I never knew Count Basie could play like that. Thank you for another educational eye(ear?)-opening video!

[@funstuff2006]

It is kinda wild being mostly familiar the Count's very unobtrusive, laid-back, rhythm section playing, then hearing Bennie Moten's recording of "Lafayette" and discovering that the blistering stride passage is being delivered by the same person.

[@BarnabyG]

Wow i cant believe i haven’t listened to this album,im gonna check it out straight away. Thx for the amazing and inspiring content Charles

[@RafaelXavierOcc]

as a student and teacher I learn so much from your videos! Thanks for this awesome material! Hugs from Brasil

[@stinspinofficial]

Hey, Charles! I recommend doing a video on the pianist, Hiromi Uehara. If you end up doing that, I'd wait until later this year when her new album comes out. I had the pleasure of hearing some of these incoming tunes, and it would be worth the wait.

[@PeterYiffin]

YESSS this would be incredible

[@drewmfie]

that first right hand basie lick is a typical stride lick. its actually a james p johnson lick. also its even more difficult with the stride left hand basie likes to play

[@zacharyliles8657]

Love the way you talk about jazz! It's the true American art form imo and I love seeing people value and discuss it today

[@Dontaking2008]

Thanks for sharing the joys that are Oscar and Count Basie. Herbie and Oscar’s piano duel, epic!

[@dillonheimerl5683]

Oscar without a doubt has changed my life as a pianist as well. No way in hell I'd be going to college for music if I hadn't come across his work...its simply unreal.

[@AustinAli]

Seeing your passion come through is so much fun to watch! Awesome video

[@XavierExel]

Love this brief but inspiring breakdown. Appreciating all your videos Charles thanks so much 🙏🎹

[@emilmaze]

I like these types of videos where music youtubers simply showcase performances or recordings that were seminal in their musical development that they find inspiring and jaw dropping. I'd be happy to see a lot more content like this. Not just from you, Charles, but from many creators such as Adam Neely for instance.

[@dunnosmapdi]

Love Oscar, and those recordings of the reunited Trio Live at the Blue Note (and how well they captured him vocalizing as he played). Saw him countless times in Chicago, including his first US performance after his stroke. The left hand never fully recovered, but he adapted (no more of the left hand mirroring the right) and continued to slay. I'm primarily a rock and guitar guy, but damn - seeing Oscar live (pick any show) just about beat all.

[@corywithout]

This was so fun to watch, I love both of these legends and it’s great to be able to learn more about what’s going on in the tune and feel your passion for it at the same time! I’m new to the channel but can’t wait to watch more.

[@Forgonia]

Would love more of this kind of analysis on classic jazz pieces :)

[@joez6235]

I think it would be cool to see you do an anlysis of some of Django Reinhardt's music. He played guitar and is know for his amazing 3 finger lightning style of playing, but I think it would still be good to hear a pianist's impression of his music because guitar skills aside, he's one of the greatest jazz improvisers to ever do it. I think translating music from one instrument to another can really highlight a lot of the compositional magic.

[@tommonk7651]

Oscar is the GOAT! That's a great description. He's the best. But Basie's percussive style is very fun to hear. These guys are such a contrast....

[@Mattythebassist_]

When hearing Basie, here, I’m reminded of a concept Emily Remler explained. In a tape recording, where, guitarist, Emily Remler, noticed a student was playing a scale and she pointed out how key conviction is. It seemed like the simplest of harmonic concepts could be made into heavy lines that you couldn’t ignore. Count Basie shares this incredible conviction. Oscar Peterson has a different conviction- his melodic lines develop a form of conviction through their layers. Melodic complexity is beautiful but conviction is just as important. Without a form of conviction, a soloist’s sound becomes lost.

[@ScaryMeadow]

In my personal taste, I'm very clearly in camp Peterson (listening to Basie at length is exhausting to me) but that doesn't mean I can't understand and marvel at the skill both of these legends have, and how brilliantly unique Basie is.

[@christopherroa9781]

This has been one of my favorite albums, I got it on vinyl about 4 years ago and it remains one of best records I've ever heard

[@anthonyferri7650]

That stride style is outstanding.

[@salliemorrill2671]

Absolute musical geniuses! So glad you focused on this today. Can't wait to get my hands on this! Great vid. God bless.

[@JonathanGurevich]

I enjoy watching your videos! Thank you!

[@108grog]

They're perfect foils for each other. Trading builds a kind of stylistic tension. And THEN, when the stride kicked in it dropped to the basement (roots of both artists) and blasted joy through the roof.

[@josephkarl2061]

If ever I'm in need of a pick me up, Oscars version of C Jam Blues always does it. Just the most joyous music.

[@triggerstrategy]

I’ve listened to so much Basie, and I love how you show how virtuosic his apparently simple playing is And OP is … such awesomeness

[@gg4gb1914]

Jumpin' at the Woodside Video is by far my favorite KZbin Video,. This has now become #2. Thank You

[@broceratops1337]

I know ZERO things about piano playing, but i am beyond grateful to witness your joy and excitement in these videos. Cheers! 🎉

[@boffyrox2]

I absolutely love Jazz, and to be newly introduced to two such fun, rich filled pianists can't be described. What a gem Charles!

[@gavinwarner3480]

I got this album on vinyl for like $4 a few years ago and it’s always been good to have on in the background but now I want to go back and really listen

[@Ophicleidean]

This is such a great track, from a great album, involving two jazz legends. When you listen to the album, you can hear what fun they're having. You nail the analysis.

[@edfws9842]

I'd recommend to check out OP's duo with Herbie H. on Billie's Bounce. Thats actually mind-blowing

[@cooldebt]

Thanks for the recommendation 🙂

[@goatbro923]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! I'm self taught, and they've really helped me how to understand songs. I'm honestly very surprised you haven't made a video about the Super Mario Galaxy OST. There are so many beautiful tracks, and it is widely regarded as one of the best game soundtracks ever.

[@esauponce9759]

Beautiful! ❤

[@Ransyh]

Great video, agree that they're both legendens in their own right and that it's super interesting to listen to and compare their styles together. Speaking of Oscar Peterson, you should check out his album with Stan Getz! The first tune, I Want to be Happy, swings so hard it might physically make you nauseous!

[@godisbollocks]

That Getz with Peterson Trio record is a killer. No drums, either.

[@stapletonpaul5066]

I love your enthusiasm about this extraordinary recording.

[@316Minecraft]

I’m so glad you posted this. I love the way the two complement each other. OPs “Words and Music” show from c1980 features Joe Pass and Bill Basie and is sublime. Well worth a watch, and gets into some detail about Basie’s playing style. Oh, and OP is the reason I have always wanted to be a pro jazz pianist, but never will be 😂

[@woolfel]

that's why I love Jazz. First time I heard jazz was on PBS, forget which show it was, but it blew me away. Before that I listen to pop and classical. It felt like Jazz musicians were superior to classical musicians in freedom of expression. the thing I love most about Jazz is it takes you on this journey and you don't know where it's going. then somehow it magically returns and wraps it up.

[@kaitlyn__L]

Both your points tie-into a great quote: “classical music treats all non-chord-tones as dissonance to resolve. Jazz just tells you which note to avoid, which means all the rest work fine”. That’s like, the scaffolding behind the exploration and complexity and confidence you discuss..! :)

[@GordonGordon]

Thank you for this video. This is definitely a new page opened in my book! Wow. Such new music to explore.

[@markpharo6017]

I'd love to see your take on Jelly Roll Morton and his The Finger Buster. When he get his right hand and left hand doing different tempos its crazy.

[@juliancrisostomo1174]

Something my teacher has talked a lot about is to play and think how Coltrane and Miles would solo. Not exactly in the way they play, but the way that they have to pause to take breaths. As pianists or guitarists, we don’t have to make space to breathe. But when we do, it allows for more space and variability, making our improvisation sound different and complete.

[@BartolomeoIrnerio]

Listening to the Oscar Peterson & Count Basie Timekeepers album made me get into jazz! They are absolute giants of piano music

[@Spitzfire]

One of my favorite tracks ever and what a joy to share in your reaction - yeah man! That stride part is legit SWINGING; you can tell these guys grew up listening to James P. and Fats and then took it in a whole new way.

[@ripleyhrgiger4669]

To me it sounded like two people having a playful conversation and just wanting to have a bit of fun for awhile. They're both so unbelievably talented and a joy to listen to. Can you do some more things like this? Maybe talk about pianist or composers who had major influences on certain styles of music (this can be from any era, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, modern). I love your joy for music and how excited you get when you hear certain phrases; brings a smile to my face. Thank you for this wonderful content!

[@RobertSaxy]

The fact their so different and confident in what they do is why it works so well. Also a different way to think of Count’s playing is as a percussionist, half drummer half marimba but with a big band in his head or something like that, he plays with rhythm as much as Oscar plays with note lines. Love this record. Oscar gets plenty of love for obvious reasons, it’s nice to see mr Basie getting some too

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

That was truly fantastic -and Oscar Peterson is the dude. And your enthusiasm is GOAT!

[@ZakiWasik]

I did not know this recording, but it is mind blowing!

[@wufflesnotwaffles]

Bro you gotta break down the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse score by Daniel Pemberton. It’s the best thing I’ve ever heard in my opinion.

[@jacobzimmermann59]

That Count Basie riff is a very fundamental pattern in hardcore stride piano language. Basie was a fully accomplished stride player, maybe not at the JPJ or Fats level, but certainly more than able to give his fellow pianists a run for their money in a cutting contest. He gradually drifted away from it as he embraced his trademark minimalist style which worked so magnificently well in a Big Band. Funnily, Oscar Peterson went kind of the opposite way. He started performing as a boogie woogie player who pretty quickly switched tracks towards bebop-inspired styles, and then started incorporating stride elements in his playing until he ended up playing full blown stride strains like in Cakewalk or Place St Henri, or even entire stride compositions of his his own like Mirage and Salute to Garner.

[@quickform2264]

What’s ‘the stride’?

[@jacobzimmermann59]

@@quickform2264 Stride is a way to play jazz on the piano. Historically it's one of the oldest jazz piano styles. Think "one man band" kind of playing, where the right hand has the chorus and the left hand replaces the rhythm section. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGqVaWiZo6uZjqs

[@funstuff2006]

​@@quickform2264It's a style of piano playing where your left hand makes big steps (strides) between the chords in the lower octaves, creating a bit of a bounce.

[@Sean_but_Not_Heard]

My grandad told stories of leaving school early to go see Count Basie. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how envious I was, lol.

[@ivyssauro123]

Basie is from the generation that made Jazz great, Oscar is from the generation that made Jazz *the greatest* musical genre ever

[@stodent-mg8bp]

One thing I noticed is that they both kept continuing each other's line from a similar part of the piano's range, like they were even able to see ahead where the other guy was end up and bouncing off of that. Hip

[@rollandmakinano1744]

I’ve seen the video, Basie is so minimalist in his soloing, but so technical, almost a jazz ragtime pianist. Both compliment each other with their contrasting style.

[@pianohar]

"Oscar is the reason why I do this". I feel you, man. He's definitiely the reason why I'm playing jazz piano today and want to share its beauty, too. Oscar Peterson is a landmark in music history, one of the select few human beings of whom you can tell that there's a "before" and an "after" and everybody feels it.

[@michaelcherry8952]

I've always contrasted them this way: Count Basie's playing is like a beautiful piece of stained glass. He leaves spaces for the light to shine through (he called HIMSELF "The laziest man in jazz".😃 Oscar Peterson's playing is like a piece of intricate carving, or sculpture. The very intricacy gives you so much to explore. To hear them together is like walking into a gothic cathedral where the elaborate stone carvings contrast with the stained glass windows. When my Dad was studying medicine at McGill University in Montreal in the late 40s, he used to listen to Oscar at the Alberta Lounge. Lucky man! When you listen to the Satch and Josh recording, you can tell that these guys are literally "playing". They're having a blast and challenging each other all the time. Oh to be a fly on the wall in the studio!😉

[@cicholasnage]

perfect description of them both!

[@jdiaz4877]

Oscar was one of my biggest inspirations aswell both of these guys bring so much to the table.

[@johanneskolaczek4984]

My love to Mr Peterson (Yes, he's probably the GOAT) started with 'At The Stratford Shakespearean Festival', a record I found quite 11:16 early in my life. Besides that: I love so much seeing you loving the thing you do!

[@captainreggae99]

I love this so much! Charles, would you consider doing a video on Dorthy Donegan? This video made me think of her and her style of playing.

[@lastnamefirstname8655]

thanks charles. amazing jazz battles.

[@forceghostburtreynolds7597]

when I watch your videos, I smile the whole time, can't help it

[@AlextheguitarFreak]

I'm not a piano player but have always loved both of these players, somehow I never knew they played together, this blew my mind! I also love Fats Waller, it would be cool to see a reaction video for him.

[@conorsweeney1480]

Awesome! Could you do an Oppenheimer music analysis next? The music from it is so unique and powerful.

[@TankNamedTom]

I know you like to react to more jazz and contemporary music, but I would love to see your analysis on some classical/baroque repertoire; id est, J.S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, etc. (I can give recommendations on great pieces to choose from and, equally important, great performances of those pieces if you’d like.) Love you channel; you’re super talented and knowledgeable.

[@jurchenaz4276]

Basie mentioned in an interview that he had a hard time getting a word in sometimes when playing with Oscar

[@flyingisland7583]

Added in my playlist. Thanks 🙏🏾

[@silasengel3370]

I think for me Basie embodies the breath. In almost every single arrangement of his BigBand his Piano Solo parts seem to boil the band down after a hot solo or a fat shout part. It’s always a part to calm down, breathe and prepare for the next explosion of the whole band. One of the most unselfish players ever.

[@Justlilolme55]

I can confirm Oscar Peterson is, in fact, the goat.

[@booknerd825]

This is how I feel as a tenor sax player listening to Tenor Madness, two drastically different styles that are so complementary.

[@savlecz1187]

I absolutely love these jazz pianist breakdown/appreciation videos! Hoping for Willie the Lion Smith or Donald Lambert next!

[@paulrodberg]

Beautiful lesson

[@lpv3142]

As I watched your video about to of my favorite pianists...I looked up another favorite pianist Andre Watts and was sad to see he passed 1 1/2 months ago on July 12, 2023.😔

[@JonoNZBoardGamer]

If I listened to this with no context, I would have thought someone was just trying to see how many random notes they could play... But your explanation made me appreciate it more 😊

[@andersontatuta3308]

Charles, please do an analysis on Take Six (specifically their first 2 albums; Take 6 and So much to say) They have some cool harmony and I would love an analysis

[@deanchyla6812]

Saturday Night at the Blue Note was the first Oscar album that I heard, and I, too, instantly became a fan.

[@Chris-vw2tl]

A Thelonius Monk album was my first CD.

[@TheDrequan123]

When you started thinking about the Oscar transcriptions I saw a fierce battle in your eyes

[@pauldarthurs]

Can't get enough of Oscar Peterson. Great to hear OP and Count Basie complimenting each other so well here!

[@TheRyanHeffner]

Gettin in good shape buddy. Good for you keep it up

[@MrAlexButyrin]

How about a series on must-listen jazz albums? Just a thought!

[@CraigGood]

In about 1987 I got to visit Mike Hawley at MIT. He had in his lab a small room with a 12-foot Bosendorfer (no idea how they got it in there) that was rigged for MIDI. (MIDI was still pretty new.) Mike played me a file that he recorded when Oscar Peterson stopped by. It was awesome.

[@Ken-ki]

I feel the same way, Oscar's style resonates more with me.