These first recordings with the Canadian pianist were made in a legendary living room session in 1961. After a concert in Zurich, Peterson was guided through the nighttime Black Forest, and was received by a small, enthusiastic group of friends in the Villingen villa of MPS founder Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer. And so he can be heard on this “pilot” album from the box set Exclusively for My Friends in a noticeably homely atmosphere with his accompanists Ray Brown (b) and Ed Thigpen (dr).

Cole Porter’s “At Long Last Love” is bubbling with high spirits, while the two Gershwin adaptations “I’ve Got a Crush on You” and “Foggy Day” are at times lyrical and dreamy, at others having a tender exuberance. The balanced togetherness of the trio is evident in the ballad “Easy Walker,” which is played in an almost outrageously relaxed mood. The recording on that legendary night in 1961 was the starting point for the MPS catalogue – after it could only be released seven years later due to Peterson’s contractual obligations. AAA Remastering by Grammy-Nominated Engineer Christoph Stickel.

This vinyl edition was produced by MPS Records in 2024.