"On the Sunny Side of the Street" from The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio features a single-chorus tenor saxophone solo by Lester Young over Jimmy McHugh's beloved 1930 standard. Performed at a moderate swing tempo of 105 beats per minute in a 32-bar AABA form in C, this is one of the more concise performances on the album, with Young as the sole improviser. His one-chorus statement is a masterclass in melodic economy, each phrase carefully shaped and placed with the unhurried confidence of a master storyteller. Young's warm, breathy tone and signature vibrato give the familiar melody an intimate, personal quality, as if he were offering a quiet reflection rather than a flashy display. The relaxed tempo allows him to linger on notes and explore the spaces between phrases, a hallmark of his influential approach that would later inspire the cool jazz movement. McHugh wrote the song during the Great Depression, and its optimistic message of finding joy in simple pleasures resonated with audiences then as now. Peterson, Kessel, and Brown provide discreet, supportive accompaniment that keeps the focus squarely on Young's lyrical invention. The brevity of this performance is part of its charm, demonstrating that a single chorus of inspired improvisation from a true master can be as satisfying as an extended blowing session.
