A Bittersweet Christmas (RIP Oscar Peterson: 1925-2007)

Cafe Society
1

Man, this bums me out.

I’ve loved Oscar and his music for most of my life, so this news really put a damper on my holiday spirit. His music has always been tied very closely to my memories of my grandfather who was, himself, a jazz pianist and swing band leader. When I wasn’t sitting on the floor listening to my grandfather play, I was sitting on the couch with him listening to Oscar, Teddy Wilson or Art Tatum records. Those early moments cemented my lifelong love of jazz and of Peterson’s music, in particular.

Oscar had stunning technique and was capable of lightning fast runs but he was also capable of moments great subtlety and emotion. He was also an excellent accompanist and sideman who played with some of the biggest names in jazz, so he knew when to reign it in and when to pull out all of stops. I know he has been criticized for being too flashy or for not evolving his style over the years, but he was an absolute master within the style he created. He’s also under-rated as a composer who he wrote some of my all-time favourite jazz pieces, the “Canadiana Suite” and “Hymn to Freedom”.

But forget about all of that. The most important thing about Oscar was that he could swing. Big time. He had an innate sense of timing and could lay down a rock-solid groove guaranteed to coax the soul out of anything he played.

My grandfather died when I was still quite young but as long as Oscar was still alive and playing I still felt a special connection to him. This christmas is going to be a melancholy one.

Goodbye, Oscar.

2

I am simply numb and can say no more. See NYT for details.

3

Perhaps the greatest jazz piano player that ever lived, with the exception of Art Tatum. The Jazz world has lost a true icon today. Rest in peace, Oscar.

4

My own thread.

A real loss.

5

I"ve combined both of the Oscar Peterson threads.

samclem.

6

He had the perfect recipe for jazz: heaps of technique, a jazz-computer mind, but most of all, taste, eloquence and a natural relaxed swing.

7

This is sad news. Oscar Peterson was the first jazz pianist I “discovered” on my own as a young musician in my early teens. He opened a new door for me, and I still hear “Place St. Henri” in my head when I think about those years of my life.

Thank you, Oscar, you brought me much joy.

8

Bummer for us.If you believe in heaven,just think who he’s jamming with now.

9

This is very sad. In a way, it’s lucky for me that I didn’t hear about this until today, as I was at a family get-together out in the boonies, and we were too busy to listen to the news.

Oscar Peterson may be gone, but he will not be totally forgotten.

I’m going to put Night Train and The Trio on the cd player now.

So long, Oscar, and thanks for all the music.