Piano Starts Here by Art Tatum
To understand Oscar Peterson, you have to start with Art Tatum. When a young Peterson first heard Tatum, he was so intimidated he reportedly didn't touch the piano for months. Tatum was the benchmark for technical brilliance, and this album, which collects
his first 1933 recordings and a stunning 1949 live performance, is the perfect introduction. The version of 'Tiger Rag' is legendary; Tatum sounds like three pianists at once, a feat that still leaves modern musicians in awe. Hearing Tatum's lightning-fast runs and sophisticated harmonic imagination, you'll immediately recognize the foundation upon which Peterson built his own towering style.
Concert by the Sea by Erroll Garner
If it's the sheer, infectious joy of Oscar Peterson's swing that grabs you, Erroll Garner is your man. 'Concert by the Sea', recorded live in 1955, is one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time for a reason. Garner's playing is exuberant, playful, and deeply melodic. He shares Peterson's ability to make even the most complex performance feel accessible and fun. The energy of the live audience in Carmel, California, is palpable, and Garner, along with his trio, delivers a performance for the ages. This album is pure, unadulterated happiness, captured on tape almost by accident by his manager.
The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 by Bud Powell
Bud Powell is the Charlie Parker of the piano—the primary architect of modern bebop piano. While Peterson was a master of swing, Powell was a revolutionary who established the language of right-hand horn-like improvisations that became standard. This album, featuring sessions from 1949 and 1951, is a bebop manifesto. Tracks like 'Un Poco Loco' and 'Ornithology' showcase a fiery, inventive mind that reshaped the role of the piano in jazz. For a Peterson fan, Powell offers a rawer, more angular, but equally brilliant approach to the keyboard.
A World of Piano! by Phineas Newborn Jr.
Few pianists could ever match Oscar Peterson's technical command, but Phineas Newborn Jr. was one of them. Newborn possessed a similar jaw-dropping facility, capable of playing with incredible speed and precision with both hands. This 1961 album is a showcase of that astounding talent. His playing on tracks like 'Cheryl' and 'Oleo' is a flurry of intricate ideas executed with breathtaking clarity. Critic Leonard Feather once called him 'the greatest living jazz pianist'. While his name isn't as widely known as Peterson's today, listening to this album makes you understand the hype. It's a masterclass in piano pyrotechnics.
Sunday at the Village Vanguard by the Bill Evans Trio
After the powerful athleticism of Peterson, the introspective touch of Bill Evans offers a beautiful contrast. This legendary 1961 live recording is celebrated for the near-telepathic interplay between Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian. Where Peterson dazzles with speed and power, Evans captivates with harmonic subtlety, delicate touch, and emotional depth. The album is a masterclass in trio communication, creating a mood that is both gentle and deeply swinging. It showcases a different kind of piano genius, one focused on color, harmony, and collaborative conversation. Tragically, it was the trio's final performance, as LaFaro died in a car accident just 11 days later.
The Real McCoy by McCoy Tyner
For a more modern, powerful sound, dive into McCoy Tyner's 1967 Blue Note debut. Fresh off his groundbreaking tenure with John Coltrane, Tyner unleashed a sound that was all his own. His muscular, percussive style, built on powerful left-hand chords and sweeping right-hand runs, offered a new path for jazz piano. 'The Real McCoy' is pure, uncut post-bop, featuring classics like the driving 'Passion Dance' and the beautiful ballad 'Search for Peace'. It’s a move from Peterson’s blues-based swing to a more modal, spiritually intense form of expression, showing where the piano trio could go next.
