On a Clear Day: The Oscar Peterson Trio

Two Lions / Mack Avenue Music Group Release LP for
On a Clear Day:
The Oscar Peterson Trio – Live in Zurich, 1971

Never-Before-Heard Recordings From Jazz Legend
Oscar Peterson

January 27, 2023: Today, Two Lions and Mack Avenue Records released the LP version of On a Clear Day: The Oscar Peterson Trio – Live in Zurich, 1971. The album features eight tracks of never-before-heard performances from legendary Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, performing alongside bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Louis Hayes. On a Clear Day is also available in digital and CD format HERE.

Purchase On a Clear Day: The Oscar Peterson Trio – Live in Zurich, 1971 LP HERE

Considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and received numerous other awards and honors over the span of his career.

The extraordinary tandem of bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Louis Hayes joined together only on one studio album, Great Connection, recorded prior to their Zurich show. This performance, recorded at the very end of their one tour, displays the group at the height of its majestic creative mastery. Peterson was not a leader who simply expected his sidemen to conform to his own preconception of what the music should be. Instead, he fed off of their individual artistry to form a unique entity for each particular manifestation of his trio concept.

That spark is certainly evident from the music on this album, further honed by the natural merging of the three masterful artists into one three-pronged creative force. The eight tracks are an assemblage of songbook classics, standards and Western Classical inspired songs – all given that personal Peterson spin. Lerner & Lane’s “On a Clear Day” opens with a short piano vamp reminiscent of Miles Davis’ “All Blues” and quickly launches into a jaunty medium-tempo excursion beautifully punctuated by Hayes and briskly walked by Ørsted Pedersen.

Mack Avenue Music Group is doing a tremendous service to the art of jazz with its dedication to both some of the most outstanding artists of today and the importance of the music’s profound legacy. On a Clear Day is its third release in partnership with Two Lions Records. Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s wife, founder/director of Two Lions and maintainer of his immortal legacy says of the relationship, “The values I hold dearest, integrity, dedication to excellence, honesty, and trust – values that are an important part of Oscar’s legacy – are demonstrated in each and every member of the Mack Avenue team. It is a pleasure to work with people who share these values. I have tremendous respect for Mack Avenue Records and the people who are that company. I am very happy to have this second archival release of Oscar and his trio and look forward to the future and more to come as we continue together to honor and share Oscar’s legacy.”

Tracklist:
1. The Lamp is Low
2. Younger Than Springtime
3. On a Clear Day
4. Young and Foolish / A Time for Love
5. Soft Winds
6. Mack the Knife
7. Where Do I Go From Here?
8. On the Trail

Missing Piece Group