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Pianist, Jazz Great Oscar Peterson Dies at 82
Foxnews and AP ^ | 12/24/2007 | AP

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 ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: canada; jazz; jazzpiano; mississauga; montral; ontario; oscarpeterson
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To: joebuck
My fave. Two masters jamming together:


21 posted on 12/24/2007 1:02:29 PM PST by Clemenza (I NO Heart Huckabee)
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To: cowtowney

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.


22 posted on 12/24/2007 3:40:58 PM PST by Bahbah
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To: GMMAC; fanfan

(((.)))


23 posted on 12/24/2007 4:56:14 PM PST by Squawk 8888 (Is human activity causing the warming trend on Mars?)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder
"w/Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy & Clifford Brown, wow!"

I just ordered this one. Horns don't come much better than Dizzy and Cliff Brown. Thanks everyone for the links and recommendations.

24 posted on 12/24/2007 7:59:34 PM PST by joebuck
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder
"Sometimes he was criticized for being a tad “notey” = too many notes."

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.

25 posted on 12/24/2007 8:05:15 PM PST by joebuck
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To: LucyT

I’m not sure if this is worth a ping to you, but please let me know.


26 posted on 12/24/2007 8:14:22 PM PST by HoosierHawk
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To: joebuck

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.


27 posted on 12/24/2007 8:19:35 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (We've checked, and all your zeroes are OK. We're still working on your ones.)
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To: HoosierHawk

Thank you, HoosierHawk. I appreciate the ping.


28 posted on 12/24/2007 9:21:36 PM PST by LucyT
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To: Norman Bates

Sad times are these.


29 posted on 12/24/2007 9:24:40 PM PST by MeekMom (Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God.)
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To: joebuck
"Sometimes he was criticized for being a tad “notey” = too many notes."

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."

30 posted on 12/24/2007 9:37:17 PM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: billorites

Well......there it is.


31 posted on 12/24/2007 9:48:40 PM PST by joebuck
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To: cowtowney


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".

Read more here.

(Rest in peace)


32 posted on 12/25/2007 12:42:07 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never 'free')
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To: Squawk 8888; GMMAC; Clive; exg; kanawa; conniew; backhoe; -YYZ-; Former Proud Canadian; ...

33 posted on 12/25/2007 12:29:21 PM PST by fanfan ("We don't start fights my friends, but we finish them, and never leave until our work is done."PMSH)
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To: cowtowney

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.


34 posted on 12/25/2007 12:38:09 PM PST by RightWhale (Dean Koonz is good, but my favorite authors are Dun and Bradstreet)
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To: RightWhale

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.


35 posted on 12/25/2007 7:02:39 PM PST by shineon
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