Yesterday, I was quite saddened to hear of the untimely passing of jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.
He was born in Montreal on August 15, 1925 and studied classical piano from the age of eight; after winning a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation talent hunt, he dropped out of high school to concentrate solely on the piano. By performing on a weekly Montreal radio show and later with Canada’s Johnny Holmes Orchestra in the 1940's, he received the nickname the "Brown Bomber of Boogie-Woogie". 1949 marked his first performance at Carnegie Hall with a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert; he became a regular member of that group during the early 1950s. He formed his own trio with guitarist Herb Ellis and double bassist Ray Brown that lasted from 1953-1958; other artists who joined his trio included Ed Thigpen, Sam Jones, Louis Hayes and Clark Terry.
With improvisational sparkle and virtuostic technique which dazzled audiences especially during his solo appearances, he was considered a consummate artist and a creative force. His accolades included eight Grammy awards, various music and Hall of Fame awards, honorary doctorates, and the noteworthy honor of becoming the first living Canadian to have a commemorative postage stamp in 2005. He performed with numerous symphony orchestras and frequently entertained dignitaries and heads of state.
To learn more about this artist, you may check out Gene Lees' Oscar Peterson: The Will to Swing. Some of his compact discs include Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson at the Opera House and Tracks.
Please feel free to sample his music using the link below: