Side by Side (Oscar Peterson and Itzhak Perlman album)

Side by Side is a 1994 studio album by the pianist Oscar Peterson and the violinist Itzhak Perlman.^[1] Peterson had not recorded or performed since 1990 as a stroke paralyzed his left side making him unable to play. This was Peterson's post stroke album.

Side by Side
Studio album by Oscar Peterson and Itzhak Perlman
Released	1994
Recorded	1994
Studio	Master Sound, Astoria, New York
Genre	Jazz
Length	61:30
Label	Telarc
Oscar Peterson chronology
Encore at the Blue Note (1990) Side by Side (1994) The More I See You (1995)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[2]

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow stated that the album is "more a loving tribute to the melodies... than a strong jazz date," and commented: "overall this is a so-so effort. It's better to acquire Oscar Peterson's earlier records."^[1]

The Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich described Perlman's playing as "mere ornament," but praised Peterson, noting that "everything [he] plays has a melodic appeal and harmonic sophistication that always has marked his best work. Further, the economy of his playing here shows just how much he can say with only a few notes."^[3]

The editors of The Absolute Sound gave the album their "What Were They Thinking?" award, and remarked: "I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to pair" the musicians, "but I wouldn't mind taking a hit off of whatever they were smoking at the time."^[4]

Track listing

1. "Dark Eyes" (Traditional) – 6:08
2. "Stormy Weather" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 4:50
3. "Georgia on My Mind" (Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell) – 5:42
4. "Blue Skies" (Irving Berlin) – 4:43
5. "Misty" (Sonny Burke, Erroll Garner) – 5:34
6. "Mack the Knife" (Marc Blitzstein, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill) – 3:29
7. "Nighttime" (Oscar Peterson) – 6:13
8. "I Loves You, Porgy" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward) – 4:47
9. "On the Trail" (Harold Adamson, Ferde Grofé) – 4:33
10. "Yours Is My Heart Alone" (Ludwig Herzer, Franz Lehár, Fritz Löhner-Beda) – 5:24
11. "Makin' Whoopee" (Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn) – 4:44
12. "Why Think About Tomorrow?" (Peterson) – 5:23

Performers

• Oscar Peterson – piano
• Itzhak Perlman – violin
• Herb Ellis – guitar
• Ray Brown – double bass
• Grady Tate – drums