Oscar Pettiford: The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet

Oscar Pettiford was a man of many abilities. He was one of the greatest bassists ever, both for his huge tone and big ears in ensemble work and his pioneering conception for soloing. By applying this approach to the cello he also opened doors for that instrument, and he was also a significant bandleader and composer. For his record on Debut, The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet, Pettiford let label-leader Mingus do the walking while he picked on the cello. It’s a rare treat to hear these two in tandem. This 1953 date is a highly-arranged, lightly-swinging affair that features nice soloing from pianist Walter Bishop, tenorman Phil Urso and French horn phenom Julius Watkins, whose fine work enhances all three of these CDs. Also included are four enjoyable 1949 tracks by a Serge Chaloff octet featuring Pettiford, Al Cohn and Red Rodney.

Originally Published May 1, 2000