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OSCAR
PETERSON
pianist
LIFELINE
born 1925
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STYLE
Oscar
Peterson, it is often said, has the technique of a true piano virtuoso,
although, to be fair, he has never claimed this himself. But jazz
artists tend to play what comes easy to them and therefore only
rarely do they develop a technique that covers the gamut of their
instruments capabilities, and this is particularly true of Peterson.
Whilst one of the striking features of his playing is the great
torrent of notes delivered at great velocity from all corners of
the keyboard, it should be noted that for each key he will have
a select litany of scales and runs that is within his physical compass,
and in the course of his career he has intoned this litany perhaps
more than some listeners would welcome. If
the sheer joy of physical contact with a keyboard has at times overtaken
Peterson, so to has his sense of musical wonder and gargantuan sense
of swing, and this he has also communicated to his audience
in abundance. Further, his repertoire is varied, thrilling and,
at times, more than inventive; his comprehension of jazz history
is exhaustive; moreover his playing can be exhilarating and this
can not be said of so many jazz pianists.
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1925
Peterson was
born in Montreal and received a classical training. His early jazz
mentors are Art Tatum and Nat
'King' Cole, for whom he claims a special affinity.
1950s-1960s
For much of
these decades Peterson has a settled
and well-drilled trio format. Ray Brown is on bass,
Herb Ellis or Barney Kessell on guitar, later replaced by Ed Thigpen
on drums. The head arrangements are strong and compelling. There
are endless recordings.
1990s
Following
strokes and gradual recovery, Peterson still performs and records.
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1949
After playing in Montreal, Peterson is introduced to an American
audience by Norman Granz, who brings him to the Carnegie Hall for
a Jazz At The Philharmonic concert. He returns to the United
States in 1951.
1970s-1980s
Peterson is much more peripatetic, rarely has a settled musical environment,
and plays much more solo piano. He has international celebrity status,
feted in the United Kingdom with television shows. |
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