The Oscar Peterson Trio – Sweet And Easy

The Oscar Peterson Trio – Sweet And Easy

Sweet And Easy is a superb showcase for The Oscar Peterson Trio's effortless command of classic American popular song. Issued in the UK on Contour Records as catalogue 2870 386, this 12-track collection brings together Oscar Peterson on piano with Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums, with Norman Granz credited as producer.

The album is packed with beautifully arranged interpretations of familiar standards, opening with "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" before moving through "Serenade In Blue", "Top Hat, White Tie And Tails", "Manhattan", "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "Cheek To Cheek". These songs give Peterson plenty of room to demonstrate the combination of technical brilliance, swing and melodic sensitivity that made his trio one of the defining small groups in post-war jazz.

The second side continues with "Chattanooga Choo-Choo", "Stormy Weather", "Blue Moon" and "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", followed by "Love Walked By" and "Lullaby Of Broadway". The repertoire draws heavily on Broadway, Hollywood and the Great American Songbook, but Peterson's playing transforms these familiar melodies into sophisticated jazz performances with impeccable rhythmic interplay from Brown and Thigpen.

Ray Brown was one of the most important bassists in jazz and a key member of Peterson's classic trio, while Ed Thigpen's understated but exceptionally precise drumming provides the perfect foundation for Peterson's flowing piano lines. Together, the three musicians create the relaxed, swinging sound that made the Oscar Peterson Trio so influential and enduring.

For collectors of Oscar Peterson, classic piano jazz and vintage jazz LPs, Sweet And Easy is an appealing example of the trio's ability to make sophisticated jazz both accessible and immensely enjoyable. The combination of celebrated standards, Peterson's virtuosic piano playing and the superb Brown–Thigpen rhythm section makes this a natural choice for collections covering bebop, swing, mainstream jazz and the Great American Songbook.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
2. Serenade In Blue
3. Top Hat,White Tie And Tails
4. Manhattan
5. I Only Have Eyes For You
6. Cheek To Cheek

Side B

1. Chattanooga Choo-Choo
2. Stormy Weather
3. Blue Moon
4. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
5. Love Walked By
6. Lullaby Of Broadway