Recorded in late September 1962 in Chicago and released on Verve the same year, the Norman Granz-produced Affinity captures the Oscar Peterson Trio — Oscar Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums — at a moment of deep cohesion, refining its blend of rhythmic poise, melodic clarity, and conversational interplay across a focused program of standards and contemporary works.

Highlights include Peterson's first recorded version of Bill Evans's "Waltz for Debby," shaped with lyricism and quiet structural control, and Brown's buoyant "Gravy Waltz," co-written with Steve Allen, which showcases the ensemble's rhythmic intuition and later won the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition. Often considered one of Peterson's more understated early-1960s statements, Affinity endures as an essential Verve recording, reflecting a trio moving with confidence, curiosity, and unity of purpose during a period of intense artistic growth.

Features

• The Oscar Peterson Trio — Affinity
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