Piano Jazz: McPartland/Peterson

by Ken DrydenWhile Marian McPartland has had hundreds of guests on her long-running piano jazz series on NPR, few have approached the polish of Oscar Peterson's first appearance on the show. Peterson not only displays his formidable technique on favorites like "Old Folks" and "Body and Soul" but proves himself to be a capable piano duet partner with his hostess. They complement one another's playing particularly well on "Falling in Love With Love" and an up-tempo "Cotton Tail." Peterson also shares amusing anecdotes about the consequences of skipping piano practice while growing up and some of the pranks he's pulled on his fellow musicians. Not only is this a very entertaining musical program, but it is also one of McPartland's most engaging interviews.