Oscar Peterson is dead

[hjorturi]

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/arts/25petersoncnd.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

This is indeed sad news for everyone who has enjoyed his playing over the years. It would be very appropriate, I think, for everyone involved to use this thread to portray their thoughts about Oscar, and the pianistic and emotional factors of his playing that contribute to his greatness as a pianist.

For those who haven't, I suggest you find yourselves a record of his. If one has spent his years of listening in the continuing limelight of the classics, I think Petersons music could prove an intriguing entry point into the mysterious world of jazz music. His playing shares many traits of the leading classical players including faultless technique, confidence at fast tempos and the ability to make the piano sing.

At last, a beautiful quote of his from the leading jazz magazine Down Beat: “When I sit down to the piano, I don’t want any scuffling. I want it to be a love affair.”

RIP Oscar Peterson

[dan101]

A tragic day for all musicians. He was one of a kind.

[jakev2.0]

In my opinion, Peterson is one of the three greatest Jazz pianists in history alongside Art Tatum and Bill Evans as well as one of the greatest musicians Canada has ever produced (on the same order of magnitude as Gould).

RIP to one of the greatest pianists of the last century. His legacy will live on.

[franz_]

Oscar was my absolute jazz-hero. In my opinion the best and complete jazzpianist ever. I listened a lot to him. He must have been a god, so strange he died on Christmas...    I saw him 1 year ago in my country. It was superb.
Thanks for everything you gave us Oscar.

[chopininov]

One of the all-time greatest.
Merry Christmas Oscar.

[dmc]

I have several of his CDs.   Wonderful jazz pianist.  A monster at the keyboard whose technique could hold its own with any classical virtuoso.  Also a great ear for innovative voicings.

God bless & RIP Oscar.

[ctrastevere]

Wow, I'm really saddened by this. Oscar Peterson was not only my favorite jazz pianist but one of my all-time favorite musicians. The world has suffered a great loss with his death.

What is everyone's favorite Peterson record?

[dmc]

What is everyone's favorite Peterson record?

The Great Connection.  I would recommend this to any OP newbie.

I also have a live one (might even be a double one) but can't recall the name offhand.  Its not as interesting.  But Connection is a tough one to top.

[arensky]

What is everyone's favorite Peterson record?

"Oscar Peterson en concert avec Europe I", a French disc of live performances at the Salle Pleyel in the 1960's with the original trio (Louis Hayes is on the last two cuts I think). Unbelievable. 

I think he played better live than in the recording studio, his studio recordings often sound stilted imo. I never understood and was annoyed when people criticized him for empty display and superficiality; "technique without function", a superb jazz pianist friend remarked one day. What nonsense. Peterson had more soul in his pinky than most of us do in our whole being. So he liked to show off; he certainly had something to show. 



No matter; he was one of the great pianists and his legacy will surely live on as jake said.
The only time I heard him live was with the Boston Pops with John Williams conducting. A lackluster performance, strangely enough. His mastery was obvious but the whole thing with the symphony was very pretentious and contrived for me. Wish I'd heard him in a club or at a jazz festival, sans violins.

Goodbye, Oscar. 

[Petter]

My grandfather had a great music interest before he turned deaf (his other big interest was pistol shooting without protection heh) and I got his Oscar Peterson records when I was about 11. Oscar Peterson turned me on to jazz music and being serious about playing so he means alot to me.

[ahinton]

Having been away in France out of e-contact since 19 December and returned only today, this was the first news I heard when I got back. Perhaps I should have stayed away. A very sad loss indeed to the world of the piano - and certainly not only to those whose principal interest is jazz.

Best,

Alistair

[franz-liszt]

Wow I didn't know about this until right now! It's a shame, he was a great pianist