Throughout his brilliant 60 year career, pianist and composer Oscar Peterson was one of the the foremost artists continuously promoting the jazz idiom. He introduced jazz to countless listeners, young and old, all over the world, performing thousands of concerts and recording over 200 albums. Just 'O.P.' to fellow musicians, (who universally revered him), he anchored small groups from duets to quartets, but was at his spectacular best as a soloist.

This 2 disc compilation of his work covers 22 of the most productive years of Oscar's career, from his debut concert at Carnegie Hall in 1949, (arranged by Norman Granz), to a 1971 trio collaboration, recorded in West Germany. Perhaps best known for his lightening-fast right hand improvisations, this compilation displays Oscar's melodic genius at all tempos.

It is only fitting that the selection of tunes and liner notes are by fellow Canadian, Gene Lees, lyricist and longtime music critic, who also authored a biography of Peterson bearing the same title as this album.

Here then, is the 'Maharaja of the Keyboard' (att. Duke Ellington).