I'VE LISTENED TO THIS INCREDIBLE ALBUM SINCE THE 1960s AND IT STILL AMAZES ME. THIS COPY WAS PURCHASED FOR FRIEND AND SHE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.
WHAT IS ENDURING ABOUT THIS INTERPRETATION OF BERNSTEIN'S CLASSIC SCORE IS PETERSON'S FRESH CONVINCING APPROACH ENHANCED BY THE EXCITEMENT AND AUTHORITY OF THIS TRIO. UNLIKE OSCAR'S VERY EARLY ALBUMS HERE THERE IS NO TECHNIQUE FOR ITS OWN SAKE. WITH THIS ALBUM THE MUSIC IS THE FOCUS AND THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE STYLED TO CONVEY THE ESSENCE OF THE SCORE FOR THE JAZZ AUDIENCE.
OF COURSE OSCAR'S ENORMOUS TECHNIQUE AND FLUENCY IS ON DISPLAY AND THE EXCITEMENT IT PROVIDES IS GLORIOUS. SOMEHOW OSCAR PETERSON ALWAYS SEEMS TO CREATE THE "RIGHT WAY" A PIECE OF MUSIC SHOULD BE PLAYED.