The Trio – The Trio

The Trio – The Trio

A landmark live jazz recording, The Trio brings together three exceptional musicians: legendary pianist Oscar Peterson, master jazz guitarist Joe Pass, and Danish bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. Recorded live at the London House in Chicago in May 1973 and released in 1974 on Norman Granz's Pablo Records, the album captures an intimate yet remarkably dynamic piano, guitar and bass trio at the peak of its powers.

The album is particularly notable for the chemistry between Peterson and Pass. Rather than relying on a conventional drummer-led rhythm section, the trio creates its own momentum through the interplay of Peterson's powerful piano, Pass's fluid guitar lines and Pedersen's extraordinary bass playing. The stripped-back instrumentation leaves plenty of space for improvisation, allowing each musician to respond directly to the others.

The opening Blues Etude immediately demonstrates Peterson's virtuosity, moving through blues, stride and boogie-woogie influences before launching into the extended Chicago Blues, a thirteen-minute performance that gives the musicians plenty of room to stretch out. Easy Listening Blues continues the blues-focused approach, combining Peterson's rhythmic drive with Pass's understated but highly articulate guitar work.

The second side takes a more varied approach. Duke Ellington's beautiful Come Sunday provides a moment of genuine reflection and lyrical sensitivity, before the trio closes with an exhilarating interpretation of Secret Love. The combination of Peterson's dazzling technique, Pass's melodic improvisation and Pedersen's commanding bass makes the closing performance a particular highlight.

The Trio also represents an important chapter in Oscar Peterson's relationship with Norman Granz. After Granz established Pablo Records in the early 1970s, Peterson recorded extensively for the label, producing a series of highly regarded performances. This album was one of the earliest Pablo releases and went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group in 1975.

For fans of Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, classic jazz, piano jazz, jazz guitar and blues, The Trio is an outstanding addition to any vinyl collection. Its live atmosphere, exceptional musicianship and beautifully recorded trio interplay make it particularly appealing to both jazz collectors and audiophile listeners.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Blues Etude — 5:41
2. Chicago Blues — 13:48

Side B

1. Easy Listening Blues — 8:00
2. Come Sunday — 3:47
3. Secret Love — 7:13