By [Your Name/Jazz Correspondent]
Oscar Peterson’s solo piano transcription of “Days of Wine and Roses” is a masterclass in melodic paraphrase and harmonic invention. He keeps the familiar Johnny Mercer/Henry Mancini melody intact while ornamenting it with elegant voicings, rolling arpeggios, and crisp, swinging right‑hand lines. The left hand alternates steady walking‑bass figures with lush rootless voicings, creating both drive and harmonic color. Listen for: oscar peterson days of wine and roses transcription
Practice tip: Play only left hand along with the recording. Notice how little he plays — it’s the space that swings. Left hand: descending arpeggios (Cmaj7 - G7 -
The Original Recording
Improv 1