In A Romantic Mood

To limit a pianist like Oscar Peterson who is mostly known for his swinging style to playing straight melodies on what in the mid-fifties was called a 'mood' album, seems an unlikely possibility. However, like many other jazz pianists of the period, Peterson was a lover of good melodies, and also enjoyed playing them with subtle embellishment. Oscar s first experience with strings took place in 1954 with the album co-led by Buddy DeFranco performing Gershwin tunes, with arrangements by Russell Garcia. Peterson was so enthusiastic about the sound of the strings that he immediately asked Garcia to prepare an album just for him: In a Romantic Mood. There, he played standards backed by a large orchestra including strings and harp.