Affinity captures a studio session from September 1962 in Chicago, featuring Peterson on piano alongside his long-time trio partners Ray Brown (bass) and Ed Thigpen (drums). The album offers a refined selection of standards delivered with the assured interplay that defined the Peterson/Brown/Thigpen trio. Peterson’s first recorded take on the Bill Evans classic ‘Waltz For Debby’ is a lyrical, nuanced performance — and ‘Gravy Waltz’, co-written by Ray Brown, showcases the trio’s rhythmic drive and subtle groove. As a whole, Affinity is a tasteful, well-crafted example of Peterson’s work in the early 1960s — a strong trio recording that reflects his continued commitment to swing, subtlety, and ensemble balance, making it a valuable piece for any serious jazz collection.
Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
