At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival

AMG Review of At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This CD contains what is considered by most listeners to be the finest recording of the Oscar Peterson-Herb Ellis-Ray Brown trio, a group that lasted from 1953-1958. Although the soloing was always quite passionate and spontaneous, the very complex arrangements are really what made this unit sound unique. The live CD adds two selections ("Nuages" and the 13-minute "Daisy's Dream") to the original program, and contains particularly memorable renditions of "Falling in Love With Love," "How About You," "Swinging on a Star," "How High the Moon," and "52nd Street Theme." Essential music from a classic band.