Oscar Peterson - Debut: The Clef-Mercury Duo Recordings 1949-1951 (2009)

The three-disc Oscar Peterson collection Debut: The Clef/Mercury Duo Recordings 1949-1951 brings together four of the legendary jazz pianist's recordings. A few years before forming his trio, Oscar (in his mid 20s) recorded duo sessions with bassists Ray Brown and Major Holley. These remain underappreciated and rarely compiled, yet they feature brilliant improvisation and were the piano virtuoso's first U.S. recordings. Stray singles and other bonuses join Fine and Dandy and a newly discovered Tea for Two (both live at Carnegie Hall); Where or When; Tenderly (from his Tenderly LP); Get Happy; Tico Tico (from his Keyboard LP); Caravan; Dark Eyes (from his An Evening with Oscar Peterson LP) 3 CDs of burgeoning jazz genius!

Tracks:

CD1 - At Carnegie Hall
01. Announcement by Norman Granz (0:49)
02. I Only Have Eyes for You (7:18)
03. Fine and Dandy (3:47)
04. Carnegie Blues (8:27)
05. Gai (5:10)
06. Padovani (4:15)
07. Tea for Two (3:30)

CD2 - Tenderly/Keyboard
01. Debut (2:52)
02. They Didn't Believe Me (2:55)
03. Lover Come Back to Me (2:51)
04. Where or When (3:27)
05. Three O'Clock in the Morning (3:34)
06. All the Things You Are (3:35)
07. Tenderly (3:45)
08. Oscar's Blues (3:14)
09. Little White Lies (3:09)
10. In the Middle of a Kiss (3:12)
11. Nameless (2:55)
12. Two Sleepy People (3:21)
13. Jumpin' with Symphony Sid (3:00)
14. Robbins Nest (3:15)
15. Tico Tico (3:01)
16. Get Happy (2:31)
17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (3:08)
18. Deep Purple (3:12)
19. Exactly Like You (2:27)
20. I'll Remember April (3:34)
21. Easy to Love (3:19)
22. Taking a Chance on Love (3:05)
23. Squatty Roo (3:25)
24. After All (3:36)

CD3 - An Evening with Oscar Peterson
01. Caravan (2:48)
02. Summer Nocturne (3:04)
03. Salute to Garner (2:52)
04. I Get a Kick Out of You (3:06)
05. What's New? (3:21)
06. Dark Eyes (3:51)
07. What Is It? (3:32)
08. The Way You Look Tonight (3:02)
09. Minor Blues (3:42)
10. Slow Down (3:48)
11. How High the Moon (3:01)
12. The Nearness of You (3:16)
13. There's a Small Hotel (3:41)
14. Lover (3:03)
15. Fancy Free (Gypsy in My Soul) (2:57)
16. On the Alamo (2:23)
17. Lullaby of the Leaves (2:41)
18. Laura (3:31)
19. September in the Rain (3:06)

Personnel:

Oscar Peterson - piano
Ray Brown, Major Holley - bass
Alvin Stoller - drums
Barney Kessel - guitar