Today marks the centennial of the birth of Canadian jazz virtuoso pianist and composer Oscar Peterson (1925-2007).
Herbie Hancock commented,
Oscar Peterson redefined swing for modern jazz pianists for the latter half of the 20th century up until today. I consider him the major influence that formed my roots in jazz piano playing. He mastered (brilliantly) the balance between technique, hard blues grooving… and tenderness.
C Jam Blues
On this recording, Peterson performs Duke Ellington’s C Jam Blues with Ray Brown (bass) and Ed Thigpen (drums), live in Denmark in 1964:
Fine and Dandy
This performance was recorded live at Carnegie Hall in 1949:
I had the privilege of growing up in a music family that loved both jazz and classical. I got to see Oscar play at least four times in the 1970s… he swung like nobody’s business and executed an endless stream of creative ideas on the keyboard so effortlessly it would make your head swim. Fantastic musicianship, artistry, creativity, feeling – Oscar had it all. And he was also a soft spoken gentleman of the highest order. As a jazz pianist, he was a force of nature. Oscar is perhaps the only pianist who was capable of following in the footsteps of the great Art Tatum.
Thank you for introducing me to this fabulous artist.
I had the privilege of growing up in a music family that loved both jazz and classical. I got to see Oscar play at least four times in the 1970s… he swung like nobody’s business and executed an endless stream of creative ideas on the keyboard so effortlessly it would make your head swim. Fantastic musicianship, artistry, creativity, feeling – Oscar had it all. And he was also a soft spoken gentleman of the highest order. As a jazz pianist, he was a force of nature. Oscar is perhaps the only pianist who was capable of following in the footsteps of the great Art Tatum.