It was only fitting that
Oscar Peterson's first of his many recordings for
Norman Granz's Pablo label would revisit the instrumental combinations he had utilized in the past. This two-CD set has all of the music originally included on three LPs (a two-album set plus a single record) and showcases the great pianist in duets with bassist
Ray Brown, in trios that also include guitarists
Irving Ashby,
Barney Kessel and
Herb Ellis and with other trios that feature such alumni as bassists
Sam Jones,
George Mraz and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, guitarist
Joe Pass and drummers
Bobby Durham and
Louis Hayes. The only fault with this consistently inventive and hard-swinging program is that the formats (particularly those on the second disc) are not in strictly chronological order. But musically the music (which also features
Peterson taking "Lady of the Lavender Mist" as an unaccompanied solo) is superb. ~ Scott Yanow