Skol is one of the great cooperative sessions among jazz recordings. Swinging and fellow feeling, not leadership or stardom, were the primary considerations when Norman Granz put together in concert Oscar Peterson, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Pass, Mickey Roker, and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen.

For many people Ben Webster is indelibly linked with the name of Duke Ellington. Ben had a long and distinguished career, of which his work with Duke was only a small part, but the crucial exposure just as he reached musical maturity was given by Ellington, and that maturity was hastened by the challenge of playing with Ellington. Yet he also gave a lot to the band and to the continuing Ellington tradition.

Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite is a 2000 studio album by Oscar Peterson. The album is a suite dedicated to Peterson's native Canada, arranged by Michel Legrand.

Romanian born trombonist, composer/arranger Peter Herbolzheimer led one of the most innovative, successful European big bands, Rhythm Combination & Brass. Composed of international stars, the band zeroed in on a big brassy sound, usually incorporating a single reed player – the great saxophonist Herb Geller. Recorded in early 1973, the album exemplifies RC&B’s playing during its early innovative period, when blues, gospel, bop and rock dominated.

The brilliant French Hammond organist and pianist Eddy Louiss worked with the likes of Kenny Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Stan Getz; reed player John Surman and drummer Daniel Humair have long been major forces on the European scene. Louiss also recorded the title piece on Stan Getz’s “Dynasty” album – here the trio presents a wilder version with fiery solos from Surman’s baritone and Louiss on Hammond. This trio likes their Sabi hot with a Spanish tinge.

An all-star quartet (pianist Martial Solal, altoist Lee Konitz, guitarist John Scofield and bassist Niels Pedersen) explores seven diverse Solal originals that range from chamberlike pieces to fairly free group improvising. The results are often exciting if cool in both tone and volume. Thoughtful yet unpredictable music.

Jazz pianist Bud Powell recorded these tunes in Copenhagen on April 26, 1962 with 15-year-old bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer William Schiopffe. Released at one point under the title Bud Powell In Copenhagen, the album features breezy interpretions of songs by Thelonious Monk, Irving Berlin, Coleman Hawkins, Tadd Dameron and others.

Unlike many other American expatriates living in Europe, tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon always managed to play and record with the top musicians while overseas. This excellent sextet session (with trombonist Slide Hampton, trumpeter Dizzy Reece, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Art Taylor) finds him exploring three Slide Hampton compositions and a trio of standard ballads. The other soloists are fine but Gordon easily dominates the set, playing his brand of hard-driving bop.

Born in Mozambique, pianist Edgar Wilson enrolled in the Vienna Academy of Music at the age of 21 to study with, among others, the acclaimed classical pianist Friedrich Gulda. Wilson gravitated towards jazz, however – a musical direction that his Mozambique roots served him well. Centered in Munich, he has become a staple on the German music scene, touring extensively with jazz violinist Hannes Beckmann, and soul jazz drummer George Greene’s band. Wilson’s 1979 debut album pairs him with bassist N.H. Ørsted Pedersen, whose work with the likes of Dexter Gordon and Oscar Peterson has garnered him near-legendary status.

This matchup between pianist Oscar Peterson, bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and drummer Louis Hayes directly precedes Peterson's recordings for Pablo. The pianist is in typically brilliant form on this recording, performing six standards (including 'Soft Winds' and 'On the Trail') along with his own 'Wheatland.' It is not too surprising that Peterson would want to record frequently with Pedersen in future years.