The Peterson- Ellis- Brown trio, which often toured with JATP, was one of jazz's great combos from 1953-1958. Kessel tired of the road and was replaced by Herb Ellis the following year. Peterson's talents were quite obvious, and he became a household name in 1952 when he formed a trio with guitarist Barney Kessel and Brown. Peterson was recorded in 1950 on a series of duets with either Ray Brown or Major Holley on bass his version of 'Tenderly' became a hit. Granz discovered Peterson in 1949 and soon presented him as a surprise guest at a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert. His technique was quite brilliant even at that early stage, and although he had not yet been touched by the influence of bop, he was already a very impressive player.

Those trio performances find Peterson displaying a love for boogie-woogie, which he would soon discard, and the swing style of Teddy Wilson and Nat King Cole.

From 1945-1949, he recorded 32 selections for Victor in Montreal. Peterson picked up early experience as a teenager playing with Johnny Holmes' Orchestra. After winning a talent show at 14, he began starring on a weekly radio show in Montreal. Peterson started classical piano lessons when he was six and developed quickly. Not all are essential, and a few are routine, but the great majority are quite excellent, and there are dozens of classics. Because he was Norman Granz's favorite pianist (along with Tatum) and the producer tended to record some of his artists excessively, Peterson made an incredible number of albums. As with Johnny Hodges and Thelonious Monk, to name two, Peterson spent his career growing within his style rather than making any major changes once his approach was set, certainly an acceptable way to handle one's career. Perhaps it is because critics ran out of favorable adjectives to use early in his career certainly it can be said that Peterson played 100 notes when other pianists might have used ten, but all 100 usually fit, and there is nothing wrong with showing off technique when it serves the music.

Peterson was criticized through the years because he used so many notes, didn't evolve much since the 1950s, and recorded a remarkable number of albums. Like Erroll Garner and George Shearing, Peterson's distinctive playing formed during the mid- to late '40s and fell somewhere between swing and bop. His original style did not fall into any specific idiom. was at his absolute best when performing unaccompanied solos. Very effective in small groups, jam sessions, and in accompanying singers, O.P. A pianist with phenomenal technique on the level of his idol, Art Tatum, Peterson's speed, dexterity, and ability to swing at any tempo were amazing. Oscar Peterson was one of the greatest piano players of all time.

Oscar peterson