How fitting that in saluting Oscar Peterson’s 80 th birthday that conductor Vic Vogel should celebrate his 70th the same year. The orchestra is a youthful powerhouse of talent selected from cities in Europe where the band performed before laying down this collection of 11 pieces in Gatineau, Quebec. The album opens with 4 Vogel compositions: a spritely latin Stormy Vetter followed by a medium up, Sweet Georgia Brown-informed Windmill , a bluesy swing tribute in Song For Cootie and the ballad Vanessa. The remaining 7 are Peterson works including 2 selections from his Canadiana Suite, Wheat Land and Place St-Henri . As well there’s the immortal Hymn to Freedom (from Night Train) and lots of Peterson up-tempo blues, from The Smudge to the closing Oscar’s Boogie . One would expect the pianist on such a project to be an exemplary talent, and that honour went to Denmark’s Peter Rosendal who gives good account of his talent throughout. As well the classic Peterson piano, bass and drums combo is highlighted in pieces such as Wheat Land . But Rosendal shares the limelight with some of Europe’s most formidable new players; for example Latvia’s Intars Busulis who steals the show with a scat vocal in Song For Cootie . In short it sounds like everybody involved had a ball, and why not? Oscar himself will no doubt share in their delight, and this tribute will light up that famous smile once more.