by Ken Dryden The Oscar Peterson Trio was recording on such a regular basis between 1959 and 1966 when Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen were working with the pianist that it is hard to keep up with all of the albums issued. The Oscar Peterson Trio Plays is one of Peterson's more obscure records, not because it is a mediocre release, but because it has been unavailable for decades, aside from a 2004 CD reissue in Japan. The pianist opens with his original "The Strut," giving him an opportunity to show off his technique at a brisk tempo, while "Let's Fall in Love" is a fine showcase for Brown, a virtuoso at the pianist's level. The remainder of the sessions include standards from the world of popular music and jazz, along with one fairly new work, "Fly Me to the Moon." While it isn't one of Oscar Peterson's very best releases, it is well deserving of being reissued on CD in America.