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Title: Four great guys, not just the two principals...
Review: When vibraphonist Jackson accepted a recording date with pianist Peterson in 1961, along came the other two members of Oscar's trio, Ray Brown on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums. While bass and drums remain in the background of this excellent CD, Brown and Thigpen were great players, and add a lot to the success of this effort. The opener, "Green Dolphin Street" is relaxed, but "Heartstrings" and "Work Song" jump. Then comes the wonderful, almost eight-minute take on "John Brown's Body" that soars. The final two cuts, "A Wonderful Guy" and "Reunion Blues" are also superb. Milt and Oscar, of course, went on to do great work up to the mid-90's, but they were already old pros 41 years ago. If you have a friend who is afraid of jazz, play this for him or her. It's a perfect blend of the four instruments and a great introduction to the category.
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