This is a fairly typical date from the Oscar Peterson Trio (which features the pianist-leader, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen). Many of the songs on this LP are associated with other musicians (such as "Waltz for Debbie," "This Could Be the Start of Something Big" and "Six and Four") but Peterson has little difficulty swinging them in his usual fashion; a highlight is the original version of Ray Brown's "Gravy Waltz."

Some guest soloists get overshadowed by Oscar Peterson's technical prowess, while others meet him halfway with fireworks of their own; trumpeter Clark Terry lands in the latter camp on this fine 1964 session. With drummer Ed Thigpen and bassist Ray Brown providing solid support, the two soloists come off as intimate friends over the course of the album's ten ballad and blues numbers. And while Peterson shows myriad moods, from Ellington's impressionism on slow cuts like "They Didn't Believe Me" to fleet, single-line madness on his own "Squeaky's Blues," Terry goes in for blues and the blowzy on originals like "Mumbles" and "Incoherent Blues"; the trumpeter even airs out some of his singularly rambling and wonderful scat singing in the process. Other highlights include the rarely covered ballad "Jim" and the even more obscure "Brotherhood of Man" from the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. A very engaging and enjoyable disc.

A Verve Records release; Originally released in 1963 on Verve Records © 2023 UMG Recordings, Inc. Audiophile vinyl reissues from the world's greatest jazz labels. Mastered from the original analog tapes by top mastering engineers. Manufactured at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) on 180 gram vinyl. Tip-On gatefold sleeves printed on high-grade board.

This unique 1958 recording is a collaboration between Coleman Hawkins and the Oscar Peterson Trio. Hawkins's voluminous, supple tenor sax sound, which had a great influence on the styles of musicians ranging from Dexter Gordon and Sonny Rollins up to Joe Lovano, is best heard on Honey Flower. The album features Ben Webster on tenor sax, Oscar Peterson on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, Roy Eldridge on trumpet, Hank Jones on piano, George Duvivier on double bass and drummers Alvin Stoller and Mickey Sheen.