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| Oscar Peterson Tribute at Carnegie Hall First ever major concert tribute in America to Jazz Piano's #1 master of swing on June 8th ! At '82', Oscar Peterson will be honored at Carnegie Hall ,well- deserved and overdue, for his brilliant career spanning 5 decades starting in Montreal as a child where he grew up and rising to international stardom. The concert is produced by Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta. His career had him performing with Jazz stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Stan Getz, and Charlie Parker to name a few. Not bad for a quiet kid from Canada who took to the piano. It all started in l942 in Montreal playing dance music with Maynard and Percy Ferguson and others, then to leading a trio by 1947 at The Alberta Lounge. It was a live broadcast there that Empresario Norman Granz heard on the radio, stopped his cab, and re-directed it to the club to meet Oscar. Granz was the Producer of Jazz at the Philharmonic. This meeting was to change Oscar's life forever . Granz made good on a promise to have Oscar perform at Carnegie Hall. It was 1949 and as part of his Jazz at the Philharmonic show at the great hall, he brought Oscar up from the audience as a surprise to perform with Ray Brown on bass which captivated the critics and audience. From here, Oscar Peterson joined Jazz at The Philharmonic and toured the world with Brown as a Duo and then adding Barney Kessel on Guitar as a Trio. They became the best in the field. In the 50's, Oscar Peterson was voted best pianist by Downbeat as he toured with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis and later with Ed Thigpen on drums, replacing Ellis on guitar. After many recordings, Oscar wrote his first major composition, ”Canadian Suite”, part of which will be performed at this concert tribute. He went on to tour extensively with Joe Pass on guitar and Niels Penderson on Bass. 100's of recordings later and some especially great ones done in Germany , Oscar Peterson stands as a giant, one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Better late than never, here at Carnegie Hall, we proudly salute this giant of the jazz piano -”Master of Swing” who, against many odds, proved that extreme talent wins out after all. His distinctive style and amazing virtuosity has carved him a place in history and a path for many to follow in his large foot-steps. Oscar Peterson is making his way from Canada once more to Carnegie Hall where he will be honored by some of the greatest musicians in Jazz eager to pay homage. HANK JONES - An Oscar Peterson 'favorite' pianist! CLARK TERRY - Longtime friend and one-of-a-kind trumpeter BILLY TAYLOR- Another Jazz piano master DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER - Paying tribute to Ella and more CHRISTIAN McBRIDE - The young Ray Brown MULGREW MILLER - A favorite of all Jazz pianists RUSSELL MALONE - Young guitarist a la the OP Trio LEWIS NASH - An American top top drummer HOUSTON PERSON - A Ben Webster of the tenor JIMMY HEATH - Top tenor and friend MARIAN McPARTLAND - Beloved by Oscar himself RENEE ROSNES - Fellow Canadian jazz pianist FREDDIE COLE - Not Nat, but here comes Freddie ROBERTA GAMBARINI - New generation of serious vocalists DAVE FINCK - Bassist in a class all his own ELDAR - Flying fingers of a 20-year old HILARY KOLE - A young and fresh voice FLORIN NICULESCU - #1 Grappelli-style violinist from France BORISLAV STRULEV - Beautiful Cellist ROGER KELLAWAY, Music Director/pianist extraordinaire And Surprises ! ”The Master of Swing” Tribute to Oscar Peterson will send lots of love his way through beautiful, swinging, and meaningful performances that will mark forever June 8th, 2007, as the day Oscar Peterson returned full circle to Carnegie Hall where it all started with that 'surprise' appearance on the great stage. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |