At the Concertgebouw
These are classic live recordings of Peterson's superb trio with guitaristHerb Ellisand bassistRay Brown, though there's long been confusion about the source. Despite the original LP title, the first eight tunes actually came from a 1957 Jazz at the Philharmonic concert at Chicago's Civic Opera House. The final five tracks were originally issued onAt the Opera House, an LP that Peterson's trio shared with theModern Jazz Quartet. Those tracks, however, were actually recorded in Los Angeles's Shrine Auditorium. The confusion about venues hardly matters. These are first-rate documents of the group, a drummerless trio to which each member brought a focus on rhythmic essentials, from driving uptempos to the loping swing of "When Lights Are Low."  Peterson's stylistic roots inArt Tatumare apparent from the start with "The Lady Is a Tramp," while Ellis's penchant for the blues shines even at the ferocious tempo ofBud Powell's "Budo." At its best, the group combines complex arrangements with a highly developed sense of interplay. It's especially apparent on the bop tunes here, likeClifford Brown's "Daahoud" and "Joy Spring," while Peterson's powerhouse playing comes through on "Bluesology."--Stuart Broomer