History of an Artist

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.