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Simply put, Oscar Peterson is a piano colossus. On a purely technical level, few jazz artists can match his ability to execute mind-bogglingly difficult feats of melodic wizardry, often at hair-raising speeds. But what really keeps the jaw dropping is his energy, the indomitable swing in every line he plays. In 1952, he formed a trio with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Barney Kessel; the following year, Kessel quit and was replaced by Herb Ellis. For over the next half-decade Peterson would reach an improvisational peak, egged on by the exuberant playing of Ellis and Brown. You can hear this legendary group on several tracks here, the most dazzling being a tear through Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian's "Seven Come Eleven." Peterson kept working hard in a variety of settings until 1993, when a stroke put him out of commission for two years. His left hand was weakened permanently, but not enough to stop him from playing again. You can still catch him on the road today, and you should. — Mac Randall