Two Originals: Walking the Line & Another Day

AMG Review of Two Originals: Walking the Line & Another Day

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This CD features one of the lesser-known versions of the Oscar Peterson Trio, taken from a period when the great pianist was joined by bassist George (then known as Jiri) Mraz and drummer Ray Price. The CD reissues all of the music from their two MPS albums (Walking the Line and Another Day) except for a version of "Just Friends" left off due to lack of space. Peterson dominates the music more than he had with the Ray Brown-Ed Thigpen (or even the succeeding Sam Jones-Bobby Durham) Trio, sounding in fine form. No real surprises occur other than the inclusion of James P. Johnson's "Carolina Shout," and this particular unit would make no further recordings. Worth picking up, but not essential.