In The Key Of Oscar (Peterson)

One of Canada’s greatest musical exports has once again been honoured with a commemorative coin, released on his birthdate, August 15 (1925), as was a stamp on the same day in 2007. I do not believe that any other musical artist or group has ever been honoured in our country with both a symbol and coin. He was also honoured years ago with 8 Grammys, 1 Gemini, and 1 Juno. There have been a few books either written by him or about him as well. He had recorded some 200 albums and has a few paying homages to the incomparable virtuoso, who possessed lightning speed on the keyboards like his hero, Art Tatum. Because he also appeared to incorporate the stylings of Nat King Cole and Teddy Wilson into his pianistic approach, some critics have been severe in their view of his place in jazz history. Having stated that, I sincerely believe that it was Peterson’s “…ebullience and skill of his mixture of Tatum, Cole, and Wilson spoke so clearly to listeners that they responded with an enthusiasm which has been as enduring as his own career, as Richard Cook concluded so well in his book, ‘Jazz Encyclopedia’ (Penguin Group, 2005). He recorded with a who’s who in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ben Webster, Stephane Grappelli, Buddy De Franco, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, and Benny Green; and fronted two of the most important trios in the history of the genre with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis initially, and then with Ed Thigpen replacing Ellis. He was also an outstanding composer with tributes to Canada, Lady Di’s Wedding, and the soundtrack to the movie, ‘The Silent Partner’, which starred Elliott Gould and Susannah York in 1979. Thankfully, Jass promoter and record label owner (Verve/Pablo) Norman Granz discovered Peterson in a Montreal nightclub one evening and subsequently took him to Carnegie Hall and to the recording studio many times over. Finally, when I asked a rock singer from Winnipeg what it was like to go into the studio with many of Canada’s finest musical exports several years ago to record “Tears Are Not Enough, he told me that it was only Oscar that he really cared to meet. Sadly Oscar was wasted in the chorus, instead of perhaps doing a solo at the beginning or middle or ending of the song…And one of the most memorable of my long career in promoting jazz in Canada was meeting Oscar with Dave Young in Seattle several years ago at in his dressing room. He could not thank me enough for honouring him on my show with an hour special. Listed below are some of my favourite albums that Oscar gave to the world with love:

Essential Oscar Peterson Recordings

1. Oscar at Carnegie (10 inches)(Mercury)
2. Buddy De Franco and Oscar Peterson Play George Gershwin (45rpm) (JATP)
3. Canadiana Suite (Polygram 1964)
4. Trail of Dreams-A Canadian Suite -with Michel Legrand (Telarc2000)
5. O. Peterson Plays The Harry Warren and Vincent Youmans Songbook (Verve) (and any of his other songbooks albums such as Arlen, Berlin, Porter and Ellington)
6. Ella and Oscar (Pablo 1976)
7. Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson Verve 1957)
8. Oscar Peterson In Russia (Pablo 1974)
9. Oscar Peterson-Stephane Grappelli Quartet (America Recs. 1973)
10. The Silent Partner OST (Pablo 1979)
11. Benny Carter Meets Oscar Peterson (Pablo)
12. Royal Wedding Suite (Pablo 1981)
13. In Tune with The Singers Unlimited (BASF 1973)
14. The Personal Touch Pablo 1980) (a tribute to Canadian artists and compositions)
15. Live At Town Hall (1997) (Various artists paying tribute)

Sadly, Oscar passed away on December 23, 2007, of kidney failure at age 82; but his immeasurable legacy will live on thanks to the likes of contemporary artists such as Deanne Mattley, who has recorded two of Oscar’s tunes on her new album, “Alberta Lounge’, including ‘When Summer Comes’ and ‘Hymn To Freedom”. Long live the music and memories of Canada’s great son, Oscar Peterson in this very special year of tributes. (August 15, 2022).