Oscar Peterson
Piano Solo on
Ad Lib Blues

About

Oscar Peterson's piano solo is the second of four solos on "Ad Lib Blues" from The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Peterson takes five choruses of blues in C at approximately 213 BPM, following Lester Young's seven-chorus opening statement. The pianist's technically brilliant approach provides a marked contrast to Young's understated lyricism, with Peterson's characteristic rapid-fire runs and harmonic sophistication bringing a different energy to the collaborative blues. This landmark 1952 session was produced by Norman Granz for Norgran Records, pairing the foundational cool tenor saxophonist with one of jazz's most virtuosic pianists.

Oscar Peterson was 26 to 27 years old at the time.