Tribute To Oscar Peterson

When death came to Oscar just three weeks ago, the country once again came alive with his music. Every radio and television programme reminded us of his greatness: the driving versatility of the young man, the confidence of the middle years, the elegiac wistfulness of the old man in winter.

It is right that we celebrate Oscar's music -- time and his magnificent talent have now put him at the top of his profession. He transcends categories, he shatters easy classification.

But let us also remember the man. The little boy in St. Henri whose father and mother insisted he take lessons and could only have wondered at the talent as it emerged so quickly. The disciplined kindness of his sister, Daisy. The sadness at the early loss of his brother, Fred, who Oscar always said "was a better player than me." The kid who wasn't afraid to fight back when faced with racism. The young man who quickly rose to the top of the Montreal jazz scene, loved, married -- more than once, had children, was discovered by Norman Granz and then took off as an international star, electrifying audiences from New York to Tokyo to Montreux, Paris and Berlin, the composer and teacher, the great Canadian, patriot, friend, and at the end, the gentle and wise companion, husband and father.

Quel homme! Un homme de chaleur, de generosite, de gentillesse. Un genie sur le piano, un magicien du jazz, un professeur qui etait toujours pret a partager son talent avec ses etudiants, qui a eu la confiance d'encourager les autres, qui avant tout aimait sa famille, son voisinage, son pays, son Canada. Un homme fier qui a lutte toute sa vie contre le racisme, et en faveur de les valeurs humanitaires.

Like all of us he was at once simple and complicated. He loved to laugh, to kibbitz, to tease, he played jokes of all kinds. He was a proud man who felt strongly about what he had achieved. He was demanding -- he expected a great deal of himself and a great deal of others. The banter of the jazz fraternity could never conceal Oscar's rock hard determination to make every performance the very best he -- and those playing with him -- could do. And he applied the same standard to those who broadcast his music and who wrote about it.

I have a feeling that if he could say something to me after today, he would thank me, and then say "but you forgot to mention...."

He was fiercely loyal to his friends, and my wife and I were lucky to be numbered among them.

Oscar knew prejudice and despised it. He refused to play to segregated audiences, he fought for human rights, he loved Canada at its best and spoke out when he saw us falling below the standards he believed in.

The Oscar I knew was a man of candour, bluntness, and courage. I first saw him play when I was a teenager (and that's a few years ago!), knew him as a great Canadian and public servant, and marveled at his recovery from the stroke that hit him over a decade ago. The story of his recovery was much about Celine and Kelly, about their love and encouragement. It was also about Oscar's will and courage.

And so the greatest stride player who ever lived discovered the painful beauty of "When Summer Comes," and the world also realized that a one-handed Oscar was better than just about anyone else with two hands. Oscar savoured that triumph.

OP -- we shall miss you terribly. But above all, we love you, we salute you, we celebrate you, and for now we must be reconciled to our treasured memories and the glory of your gifts that is in the music we shall hear forever in our ears, but above all, in our hearts.

Comments

[vipersdad]

Somehow I missed hearing about this - Thank you Huffpo for covering something that was under the radar in today's media.

Oscar Peterson was more than a Giant - he was an innovator with mind-boggling technical skills and unrivaled Musicianship. We lost a Jazz Treasure when we lost Oscar. I cannot imagine my life and career as a musician without his influences. I will miss him but he lives on in all our hearts.

[boltaflex]

Thank you, Bob.
Oscar Peterson changed my life. He was the first jazz musician I ever heard, and I'm a professional musician today in great part because of his effect on me. I never got to meet him personally--I saw several performances by him, that was enough of a thrill. You are a lucky man.
Peterson has a lot in common with Ted Williams.
Both concentrated on perfecting their technique in order to be the best they could possibly be. Both are revered and admired for their dedication, stamina, talent and skills.
And both, of course, developed a more perfect swing than anyone else in history.

[larry278]

This blog is more than an obit. It is a foundly written story of a friendship. It's fitting that a great musician has his obit written by a talented writer. The obit is more than well written. No, I don't know a suitable term for this obit. Great is too often an overused word. There is greatness in this obit blog.

[Oskaloosa]

Oh,yeah- the Oscar Peterson Trio with Stan Getz recording is one of my top 10 of all time.

[Oskaloosa]

Bob! Thank's for the great post. O.P. was the greatest! Those recordings on the Pablo label (with Joe Pass and Ray Brown) never get old. The best make it look so easy.

[cinemaven]

I'm so privileged to have heard Oscar Peterson twice in person. I saw him at the Imperial Room of the Royal York and at Roy Thompson. My copy of Peterson live at the Stratford festival is always in rotation on my cd player.

He is missed.

Excellent column ... I met you many, many times in your previous incarnation Bob. The most memorable being at the CAW (UAW in those days) camp at Port Elgin. I've always enjoyed hearing you speak.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

His gift of music to the world is priceless. As a pianist, I can tell you that he was one of the best I've ever heard. His touch was magic. Rarely has there been such a gifted artist who bonded with his chosen instrument.

Rest in peace and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

[quest2bsure]

Nice piece Bob. Was saddened to hear the news, but grateful his mastery of the keys has been preserved for posterity, hopefully securing his legacy for generations to come.

I raised my family to appreciate diversity of talent and music, and believe whatever genre they follow, Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum set the bar for all aspiring pianist.

Thanks for the story Bob and thank you Oscar for your incredible talent

[gabriel38g]

There was a lot of controversy surrounding Kanye West's comments made during a benefit for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, but I remember a televised benefit for the victims of the tsunami that Oscar Peterson played. Quietly and calmly he spoke his support for the cause, while reminding those watching of the people dying in the Sudan at the same time. And then he proceeded to put on a stellar performance of piano playing skill and imagination that is, and always was rare.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

I love the albums on Verve of Oscar Peterson and his trio backing up Lester Young, Ben Webster, and Coleman Hawkins. And one particularly unique work which I listen to all the time is the album with Fred Astaire. Peterson could propel the hard-driving swing numbers-- such as the duals on "Ben Webster Encounters Coleman Hawkins"-- or his beautiful, bell-like tone would leave plenty of space for Hawkins on the ballads "Ill Wind" and "Like Someone in Love" on "The Genius of Coleman Hawkins" album. And he and Teddy Wilson are my favorites for backing up Billie Holiday.

[bennie]

A musical giant and a great human being just passed away, after over 75 years of making music which gladdened the hearts of all that heard him.
To say his piano playing was influential is one of the biggest understatements one could make. As a pianist I can testify to his impact on my playing for the many, many years I've been listening him. I know of no other pianist that would not agree that his impact on their playing was enormous. My playing was most affected by his peerless ballad playing, and his incomparable ability to accompany other soloists, in the most tasteful and understated way. His touch, his harmonic sense, and his total command of the instrument was the standard that I aspired to and continue to do so. He, like Erroll Garner and Art Tatum, who also gained total command of the piano, are the gold-standards for all musicians to aspire to and emulate.
I remember first hearing him in the late 40s and being astonished at his virtuosity and touch. Later in the 80s I was able to meet him in person and spend a rewarding two or three hours with him in a piano emporium owned by a dear friend, David Abell, who also has passed on. He was in town on that occasion, to play at The Loa, a jazz club owned by the bassist of his first great trio, Ray Brown. In our conversation, we discovered that our dads were both amateur musicians and had started each of us in music lessons around the age of five.
From that time on, right up to his recent passing, I was able to more deeply identify with him as a person, along with continuing to being inspired by his awesome musical gifts. The outpouring of love and affection for him from around the world, as well as the universal admiration for his prowess on the piano, is a tribute to the man and his music.
Rest In Peace Oscar - you left this world a much better place, and we are the richer for it.