The Essential Collection

I am not a jazz enthusiast, but these two CDs are absolutely mesmerizing. I didn't even know Previn played jazz. I have played the CDs dozens of times since I got them and find them incredibly "involving." He plays old favorites like I Only Have Eyes for You, It Happened in Sun Valley, Moonlight in Vermont, etc. so I start by liking the melody, then he takes them to another dimension with his jazz work. Absolutely phenomenal!

Excellent playing and a fine composer

Item arrived Early--Arrived as described. I was pleased with purchase

This is different,starting in the 40s which doesn't get you back into the ricky ticky,listening to Previn's growth in maturity & his articulation makes it easy .Grade A

The cd was in excellent condition.

This collection of Previn's work is exceptional, with hard to find cuts, especially the ones taken from his early 1960's LP "Love Walked In". His technique is amazing and shows his classical music training, with flawless timing, elegance and always retaining the melody line throughout the variations. The very early recordings of him at age 17 are especially rare and show his ability even as a young man. In my opinion, this CD is truly "essential" to any jazz piano collection.

Another wonderful bargain priced issue from the Avid label. These 2 CDs contain 51 tracks covering the period 1946 to 1955. I am not alone in overlooking what a super jazz pianist this man was before taking up the classical baton. The first CD is an exact copy of the album "Hallelujah - Seminal recordings 1946-1950". On CD 2 tracks 1 to 12 is the complete Apr 1955 album "Let's Get Away From it All" less the reprise of the title track. Tracks 13 to 22 appear to be the complete May/Jun 1955 album devoted to the music of Gershwin, a subject that Previn was to re-visit in later years. The final tracks (23 to 26) cover the period 1947 to 1949 and do not appear to be currently available elsewhere. There is much to enjoy on these discs which I have already started to re-play. I particularly like his interpretations of the slower numbers on CD 2. If you are a fan of Mr. Previn then have a look at another Avid release namely "Shelly Manne - Combinations 1954-1956".

A 1970s TV show with André Previn and Oscar Peterson in conversation, seated at pianos, ended with Previn saying: "Is there something I could play with you? Something simple, like a few scales perhaps?"Self-deprecating modesty, of course, because Previn was an extremely deft jazz pianist, from his teens onwards, as this double CD set illustrates.Like Peterson, Previn was strongly influenced by the great Art Tatum - perhaps even more so. While the dexterity is there, Previn does not exhibit quite the variety and nuance of the other two men, but he is, nevertheless, a fine player and this extensive collection of recordings is a real bargain.

Wonderful cdLovely to unwind with after a hard day at work.

Wonderful Previn

Early Andre Previn worth hearing if you are a fan