Oscar Peterson - Two Originals: Walking the Line & Another Day (1971/1996)

Tracklist

Walking the Line
01. I Love You
02. Rock of Ages
03. Once Upon a Summertime
04. Teach Me Tonight
05. The Windmills of Your Mind
06. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
07. All of You
Another Day
08. Blues for Martha
09. Greensleeves
10. All the Things You Are
11. Too Close for Comfort
12. The Jamfs Are Coming
13. It Never Entered My Mind
14. Carolina Shout

Personnel:
Oscar Peterson - Piano
Jiri Mraz - Double Bass
Ray Price - Drums

Walking the Line:
Oscar Peterson's series of recordings for Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer during the 1960s and early '70s are one of many high points in his long career. With George "Jiri" Mraz on bass and Ray Price on drums, Peterson's flashy romp through "I Love You" (complete with a humorous detour into the opera "Pagliacci") and mid-tempo walk through "All of You" salute Cole Porter in style on Walking the Line. "Rock of Ages" isn't the old hymn but a lively, gospel-inflected Peterson original that will easily get any congregation swinging and swaying to the music. His mastery of the ballad form is heard in his sensitive interpretation of "Once Upon a Summertime," which showcases Mraz's gorgeous tone, as Price sits out this one.--Ken Dryden, AMG

Another Day:
Good '70 session from pianist Oscar Peterson, arguably the most recorded mainstream stylist ever. He's made so many albums over the years, with a great deal sounding similar, that while they're never bad, sometimes they're for keyboard freaks only. That's something of the case here, although Peterson spins some fabulous solos.--Ron Wynn, AMG