Jazz legend Oscar Peterson dies

[Motorboat Cruiser]

The jazz world lost a true icon today, one of the greatest piano players there ever was. Of course, CNN took the story of of its front page within about an hour to make room for some meaningless non-news item.

Link

TORONTO, Ontario (AP) -- Oscar Peterson, whose early talent and speedy fingers made him one of the world's best known jazz pianists, died at age 82.

I was turned on to Peterson when I was in college and the first thing I thought was that two people must be playing the piano simultaneously. Surely ten mere fingers couldn't accomplish that. But they were.

There are so few legends left in the Jazz world. It's a sad day for all who ever had the privilege to hear him play. Rest in peace, Oscar.

[Snowflake]

One of the most memorable concerts I ever attended was an evening with Oscar Peterson Trio and Ella Fitzgerald with the Paul Smith Trio.

Oscar was incredible, he opened for Ella, and played terrific stuff, standards and his own standards. He was the personification of joy at the keyboard.

I do not have nearly enough of his recordings, thank God he left us many.

Thanks MBC for posting this, an artist or great merit who will be sorely missed, but who left us such a great legacy. Excuse me now while I put something on the stereo now. Bon Voyage Oscar.

[Jazzman]

This news totally put a damper on my holiday groove. You nailed it in your post Eric. We just don't have many such amazing musicians left. What really gets me is that America is losing its musical heritage and the general public doesn't even realize it because they're too busy worshiping whatever two-bit hack the industry has plastered all over the radio this week. I had the tremendous fortune of spending a day with Phil Woods a while back and listening to first hand stories about such iconic names as Basie, Ellington, Bird and so on was mind blowing. I kept thinking, "How is this man not a household name? How is it that people can name all the Backstreet Boys or list every Tori Amos track but not have a clue who Phil Woods is?" The same can be said for Peterson. So sad. I'm glad that there are at least a few of us who are genuinely mourning Oscar tonight and will truly understand the loss to music that happened today.

Today the music died a little more.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I'm sorry I don't know him or his music, but I think I will take the first opportunity to find his works and see what its all about.

RIP

[Not Afraid]

Oscar Peterson was an amazing musician. The Jazz world and all of us have lost a legend.