Live In Bremen 1961

An Alchemist at The Glocke - 3,000 copies 

The Glocke was one of Herbert von Karajan's favourite halls in Europe. An unusual place, located in the Hanseatic city of Bremen. It was designed on an octagonal plan in 1737 and despite several fires, , it has retained some of the finest acoustics on the continent.

On that evening in April 1961, before an audience of 1,400, the imposing figure of Oscar Peterson sat down at his piano with his two acolytes. There was Ray Brown, known to his admirers as “the handsome bassist”, and Ed Thigpen, one of the most sought-after drummers on the New York scene. 

The Lost Recordings retrieved the tapes of this landmark concert from the archives of the Bremen Radio, and many long weeks were spent on their restoration. Oscar Peterson is an alchemist of genius, and in a certain sense, his very own Pygmalion who sees his transformations through to end. Already a master of swing, Peterson surpassed himself in every way. He broadened his repertoire and constantly reinvented himself, all the while remaining faithful to his innermost self. His legacy, the magical lustre he brought to jazz, is priceless.