Oscar Peterson
Piano Solo on
You Turned the Tables on Me

About

Oscar Peterson's half-chorus piano solo is the sole improvisation on this intimate ballad reading of Louis Alter's standard. Peterson takes half a chorus over the 32-bar AB form at 83 BPM in C, bringing a restrained elegance to his brief statement that tempers his typically exuberant style to match the song's contemplative mood. As the track's only instrumental solo, Peterson's concise improvisation demonstrates the mutual respect between artist and singer, his playing serving the song's emotional character rather than pursuing individual display within Billie Holiday's tender vocal performance.

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