Oscar Peterson: City Lights

Oscar Peterson was a year in recovery from his 1993 stroke when this recording was made in Munich with his working team  of Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen/b, Lorne Lofsky/g and Martin Drew/dr, but you sure wouldn’t suspect a thing, as the pianist is in swinging and exuberant form throughout. No, there aren’t any torrid flag wavers, but the easy Basie-style blues on “You Look Good To Me” work excellently, as does the gentle and tasty “Love Ballade” and strong stride of “Kelly’s Blues”. Pederson gets the lead on a reflective “Samba Petite” and Lofsky gets his share of soling as on a lyrical “The Gentle Waltz” and classy “There Will Never Be Another You, and the team digs in well on a funky “Nighttime” More light than heat at t his stage, but no complaints.

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