Jazz and Blues Lounge

In Memoriam - Oscar Peterson

by balaspa on December 26th, 2007

The problem with being such a fan of classic jazz is that, for the most part, the musicians who played that great music are either dead or quite elderly and, therefore, likely to pass away.  I am sorry to report that another musician who was key to my early jazz days, especially during my time working for KSLH radio, piano great Oscar Peterson has passed away in his home near Toronto.  Oscar was 82-years-old and, really, one of the best there ever was.

Within the music vaults of KSLH we had several Oscare Peterson Trio CDs.  The best ones were the live ones and that’s not just because the songs were nice and long.  The fact is, he could play and he could play well.  When the greatest jazz piansts list is made, Oscar can easily be named along with Earl Hines and Thelonius Monk.

Oscar played with all of the jazz greats.  He played piano while Ella Fitzgerald sang.  He played with the great Count Basie and Duke Ellington.  He also played for Charlie Parker.  He even played with Dizzy Gillespie.  His most-famous trio is one he lead along with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis in the 1950s, the heyday and golden time for great jazz.

Duke Ellington himself was so in awe of Oscar that he once referred to him as the “Maharajah of the keyboard.”  Count Basie was also willing to heap praise upon him and once stated, “Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I’ve ever heard.”

Oscar has gone on to influence countless jazz musicians.  No less than Herbie Hancock lists Oscar as one of his biggest influences.  Billy Taylor has also cited Oscar as a major influence.

Oscar was a native of Canada.  In fact during his career he recieved the Order of Canada, seven Grammys and a lifetime achievement Grammy in 1997, plus all of Canada’s highest awards. 

Peterson started out in music at the tender age of 5 when he learned trumpet and piano.  He suffered a bout of tuberculosis that put an end to his trumpet-playing aspirations.  Like many jazz pianists, he was classically trained during his lifetime and became well-known for his speedy fingerwork on the keyboard.

In 1993 Oscar suffered a stroke that slowed those speedy fingers down a bit, but he continued to play.  It took two years of recovery, but he even returned to recording.  In 2005 he became the first living person who was not a reigning monarch to have a commemorative stamp made for him in Canada. 

I strongly recommend, and have done so on here before, that you add a little bit of Oscar Peterson to your jazz collection.  If you can find some of the Oscar Peterson Trio recordings, particularly the live ones, then you will truly hear a piano virtuoso at work, loving his work and tranferring that joy to those who listen.

Oscar will be missed.

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