Fred Astaire
Oscar Peterson

Fascinating Rhythm

Blue Moon Jazz

Personnel:
Fred Astaire (vcl, tap dance), Charlie Shavers (tp), Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (g), Ray Brown (b), Alvin Stoller (d)

Reference: BMCD 3029

Bar code: 8427328030298

Info
Tracklist
Album details
Press

Because he was world renowned as a dancer and quite popular as a movie actor, Fred Astaire has tended to be underrated (if not completely overlooked) as a jazz singer. Although not really an improviser, Astaire's phrasing always swung and his occasional vocals on record were usually a joy. This CD is something special for it features Astaire with six members of Jazz at the Philharmonic: tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, trumpeter Charlie Shavers, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Alvin Stoller. Astaire sings 22 swing standards (many of which he had originally introduced in movies) and dances on three ad-lib numbers; the musicians have plenty of opportunities to stretch out. The biggest surprise to this set is that Fred Astaire did not do similar projects more often throughout his career. Highly recommended.

-Scott Yanow (All Music Guide)

Tracklist

01. Fascinating Rhythm (Gershwin-Gershwin) 2:41
02. I Won't Dance (Kern-Hammerstein-Harbach) 3:01
03. 'S Wonderful (Gershwin-Gershwin)2:56
04. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (Gershwin-Gershwin) 4:36
05. Isn't This A Lovely Day (Irving Berlin) 4:26
06. Night And Day (Cole Porter) 5:00
07. Steppin' Out With My Baby (Irving Berlin) 2:22
08. The Way You Look Tonight (Kern-Fields) 2:57
09. The Continental (Conrad-Magidson) 3:28
10. A Fine Romance (Kern-Fields) 3:43
11. Cheek To Cheek (Irving Berlin) 5:39
12. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Gershwin-Gershwin) 2:07
13. They Can't Take That Away From Me (Gershwin-Gershwin) 4:22
14. They All Laughed (Gershwin-Gershwin) 2:55
15. A Foogy Day (Gershwin-Gershwin) 4:00
16. Top Hat White The And Tails (Irving Berlin) 3:49
17. I've Got My Eyes On You (Cole Porter) 2:57
18. A Needle In A Haystack (Conrad-Magidson) 2:22
19. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One (Irving Berlin) 2:54
20. Oh, Lady Be Good (Gershwin-Gershwin) 4:29
21. No Strings (Irving Berlin) 2:54
22. I'm Building Up to an Awful Let-Down (Astaire-Mercer) 3:59

Album details

Fred Astaire sings in all tracks, accompanied by:

Oscar Peterson (piano), Charlie Shavers (trumpet), Flip Philips (tenor Sax), Barney Kessel (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), and Alvin Stoller (drums).
Recorded in Los Angeles, December 1952

Original sessions produced by Norman Granz
This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas S.L.