We Get Requests

Oscar Peterson was such a consistently strong performer that even a lighter session like this still has plenty to enjoy. It may not rank with his very best, but there is more than enough here to recommend it, especially if you are drawn to the easy authority and swing of this classic trio.

The set leans on several songs that were heavily requested in the mid-’60s, including People, The Girl from Ipanema, and The Days of Wine and Roses. On paper, that might suggest a programme with limited potential, but Peterson does a lot to lift the material. Even when the choices feel familiar, his playing brings shape, energy, and character.

Not every tune is transformed, and not much could be done with People, but the session is helped along by a few stronger additions, including Peterson’s own Goodbye, J.D. and John Lewis’ D & E.

Overall, this is a reasonably enjoyable Oscar Peterson date, made all the more appealing by the presence of bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen.