Posted on 12/24/2007 11:09:25 AM PST by cowtowney
His death was confirmed by Hazel McCallion, mayor of Mississauga, Ontario, the Toronto suburb where Peterson lived. McCallion told The Associated Press that he died of kidney failure. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said he died Sunday. "He's been going downhill in the last few months, slowing up," McCallion said, calling Peterson a "very close friend." During an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Peterson played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. He is also remembered for touring in a trio with Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar in the 1950s. Peterson's impressive collection of awards include all of Canada's highest awards and honors, such as the Order of Canada, as well as a Lifetime Grammy (1997) and a spot in the International Jazz Hall of Fame.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What a talent. I saw him once in Detroit, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge.
In addition to everything else, he had a very quick wit.
Make some more heavenly music, Mr. Peterson.
(((.)))
I just ordered this one. Horns don't come much better than Dizzy and Cliff Brown. Thanks everyone for the links and recommendations.
This is a common pitfall for many players who are true technical virtuosos on their instrument. Bird, Jimmy Page, even Jerry Lee Lewis all had a propensity to show off their skill, sometimes at the expense of the pure music. Probably just because they can. It's more an issue of taste than a legitimate criticism.
I’m not sure if this is worth a ping to you, but please let me know.
Really, that pairing jumped out at me as well. In a quickie search I was unable to find the 1957 JATP Ella Fitzgerald with all those horn players in anything but vinyl.
Thank you, HoosierHawk. I appreciate the ping.
Sad times are these.
Does anyone remember the scene from the movie Amadeus when Emperor Joseph II tells Mozart...
"Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect."
Well......there it is.
Oscar Peterson was born on August 25, 1925 in Montreal, Quebec. All five Peterson children, Fred, Daisy, Charles, Oscar and May, learned to read and write at an early age and were expected to learn musical instruments. Oscar Peterson started his musical studies on the trumpet but, after a bout of tuberculosis, switched to piano at the age of eight. Initially, he was taught by his father, a self-taught pianist, and then by his older sister Daisy, who also taught Oliver Jones and Joe Sealy.
At the age of 12, Mr. Peterson went to study with Lou Hooper and then attended the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréaly´ By the age of 15, Mr. Peterson was studying with classical pianist Paul de Marky who helped develop his piano technique. That same year, Oscar Peterson won an amateur contest sponsored by Ken Soble, a local radio personality on CKAC in Montreal. He began his own radio show, "Fifteen Minutes Piano Rambling". By 1941, he was performing on the weekly radio show "Rhythm Time"on CBM in Montreal and in 1945 was heard regularly on CBC's "Light Up and Listen"and "The Happy Gang".
(Rest in peace)
Toured with Ray Brown did he. We lost Ray Brown a couple years ago. Played string bass like we wish we could. There’s probably tech ability out there like these two, but the feel of the era is history.
Dear Mr. Peterson - Once lived - your musical phrasing present a voice of love, a touch of class, a cascade of elegance against a jazz backdrop of rythm and blues.
How can I thank-you enough for opening the windows of heaven and setting the table for the likes of Billie and Bird, Louie and Ella, Dizzy and Pass.
Can I ever release you and let you go?
I can’t.
I will continue to go back again and again re-living each lovely turn.
And I will shed a tear, and thank the good Lord, knowing all things must pass.
And I can hope the love I feel each time I hear your gracious and tender voice, the music of your soul mixed with His anointing oil, will spill over and lighten up one more captive heart and lead it to that secret place where death cannot reach and sorrow will no longer need the comfort of your sound.
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