sad. one of my faves. loved the +1 album with clark terry.

Holy shiat. That's terrible.

... shiat

Seriously I thought he died decades ago...

There are few people whose death would make me gasp and feel overwhelming sadness. When the world loses an incomparable master like Peterson it feels just a little darker today.

I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert on a number of occasions and I must have at least a dozen discs of his or featuring him. His fingers, his heart, and his soul were beyond compare.

Rest in peace, Oscar. You will be sorely missed.

When the Jazz Man's testifyin', a faithless man believes

RIP, one of the greatest.

Damn, this brings me down. He was in the news a year or two ago; he lives (lived) in my city Mississauga and the guy was being hassled by local punks at his home. Don't know what the police did about it though.

Anywayz, time to put "Oscar Peterson: Live from Paris" in the CD player when I get home. Smooth.

Best words ever spoken about him were from Ray Charles: "Oscar Peterson is a mother farking piano player!"

gopher321: he lives (lived) in my city Mississauga and the guy was being hassled by local punks at his home.


I never heard about that, he does live just a block or two away from me. I'll actually just pass by his house on the way to my grandmother's tonight.

Well that sucks the "merry" right out of my christmas. Guy was a giant.

Another god of jazz leaves these shores to find a better place.

R.I.P. Oscar Peterson.

Shiat, noooo!! Shiat.

RIP

Ahhhh crap. :-(

When I was a kid, I found the Canadiana Suite in my dad's vinyls... and I fell in love. Oscar Peterson is the reason I love jazz, and one of the big reasons I love music.

RIP Oscar, and thanks for everything.

I was just listening to Night Train last night. Sad news.

Ahhhh, <sigh> my Dad told me about him 35 years ago and Ive been a fan ever since. And now their both gone.

F elton john and his 'Circle of Life'

R.I.P. Oscar, you're missed already.

BTW his 'Rodgers and Hammerstein Song' - if I have the title correct- is great stuff.

Pick it up.

I know his health wasn't so great recently, but it doesn't make it any easier hearing about it.

RIP Oscar. You and Art Tatum were the best.

Godspeed you symphonic Liszt of jazz.

Good night, Piano Man.

It's sad how jazz greats are praised and awarded only after they die. Many of them don't even have a record deals. They deserve better during their lifetime. Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Ornette Colemen ... There are many greats that I honestly don't even know if they are alive anymore.

One night in Tokyo nearly 33 years ago, I wandered out of my hotel and into a little bar. Might have been Kyoto - the memory fades. A few guys sitting at the bar includes this black guy in a sports coat. I sit down and order a scotch and we start to chat. He says he's from Canada too. I notice that patrons of the establishment have their personal bottles of hooch on the wall behind the bar. Then I see the name on the bottle the barkeep is pouring from for my neighbor - "Oscar Peterson". Sweet Lord Almighty, I was sitting beside the great man himself. Had a couple drinks and chatted a bit and went back to my hotel.

/good times
//sweet music in heaven tonight

Rodeodoc: One night in Tokyo nearly 33 years ago, I wandered out of my hotel and into a little bar. Might have been Kyoto - the memory fades. A few guys sitting at the bar includes this black guy in a sports coat. I sit down and order a scotch and we start to chat. He says he's from Canada too. I notice that patrons of the establishment have their personal bottles of hooch on the wall behind the bar. Then I see the name on the bottle the barkeep is pouring from for my neighbor - "Oscar Peterson". Sweet Lord Almighty, I was sitting beside the great man himself. Had a couple drinks and chatted a bit and went back to my hotel.

/good times
//sweet music in heaven tonight

A treasure of memory unique in all the world, and yours alone. I reply only to be touched your post, which you touched, who in your turn connects, however distantly in time and consciousness, to the singular man in question.

A discreet nod, and a drink with you, sir (cheers), and if I may, a handshake, fistbump, or gesture of your choice.

Last year it was the king of soul James Brown who died on christmas, this year it's jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson who died just before christmas. Something tells me some god of rock will be took next year on Decemember 21st or December 27th. My eye's on Clapton...

Oscar Peterson was fantastic. His solo work is outstanding, and he was a great combo player as well. One of the great things about Peterson, though, was his appeal to people who weren't all that into jazz. I've had people in my car when I've been listening to "Night Train" or one of his other great tunes, and they all seem to enjoy it more than other albums I may have on randomly.

spanish flea: It's sad how jazz greats are praised and awarded only after they die. Many of them don't even have a record deals. They deserve better during their lifetime. Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Ornette Colemen ... There are many greats that I honestly don't even know if they are alive anymore.

To my knowledge they are and are all major-label (or at least as close as jazz musicians get - subsidiaries of majors), but your point is dead-on nonetheless. For each of those guys there are literally hundreds in every major city who stay in obscurity yet are equally talented and fun to hear.

/OP's Christmas disc is on now - "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Rad story (not mine):

When I was a young man I did what many before me had; I moved into a silverfish infested slum apartment with my then girlfriend in an attempt to 'begin' my life. I worked two jobs, started to teach myself how to play guitar, write songs, paint, and learned the joys of subsiding on packaged noodles and steamed broccoli.

Of course, as is often the case, the girl left, I was plunged into debt, lost my job, and ended up on welfare for a while before I could find work again. But something happened at that building that I will never forget, the magnitude of which wouldn't truly sink in until years later.

My landlord's name was Phil. A former teamsters rep, he had somehow ended up governing the building either by choice or simply as something to do for extra income in his retirement. Nevertheless, he was a fantastic guy, and every so often would hear me feebly strumming my guitar and, on occasion, mention that his brother was a musician.

One afternoon, after the girl had left and the debt became alarming apparent, I went up to Phil's apartment to give notice. After answering the door he asked me inside, as was usual, and I explained to him that I'd be leaving. It was then, from the living room, that I heard the sound of the organ.

Sitting at Phil's old organ that afternoon was his brother, Oscar.

Oscar Peterson, one of this country's most celebrated jazz musicians, passed away today at the age of 82.

- Matthew Good

Tucci:

"I don't think Oscar ever played organ on any recordings, did he?"

He did on a couple:

"Oscar Peterson And Roy Eldridge"
"The Giants" (with Joe Pass & Ray Brown)

These are the only two albums that I know of, but there may be more. I think he actually learned to play the organ before switching to the piano.

I often listen to Oscar's albums & he's one of my top 5 all time favorite jazz piano guys. His death seriously bums me out.

He was a nice guy. We always went trick or treating at his house when I was a kid. He would give you a quater or a whole chocolate bar to every kid.

25 cents when you are 9 years old in 1960 was a great prize. The chocolate bars then were also huge compared to today. Funny how little things come to your mind when you see and hear about things from your past almost 40 years ago.

Saw him at Carnegie Hall. Oscar, a piano and the stage. Amazing.

Oscar Peterson's worst work was on one of the most groundbreaking albums ever. I guess that says something for the man.

R.I.P.