The third volume of
Oscar Peterson
's Exclusively for My Friends series, all recorded with an invited audience in the warm studio of producer
Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer
, features live trio sessions with bassist
Sam Jones
and drummer
Bobby Durham
. The program opens with an unusual medley of
Ray Brown
's
"Waltzing Is Hip"
(played with gusto) and a gently swinging
"Satin Doll."
The influence of
Art Tatum
is apparent during his intricate runs within
"Love Is Here to Stay,"
while the multifaceted original
"Sandy's Blues"
(dedicated to his wife) combines a dark mood with a swinging setting. The lighthearted waltzing treatment of
"Alice in Wonderland"
is pure joy, while another original,
"Noreen's Nocturne,"
is simply a showstopper. ~ Ken Dryden