Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson (1925-2007), Canadian jazz pianist, considered preeminent in technical brilliance and ability to perform swing music. Born in Montréal, Québec, Peterson began playing trumpet and piano at age five, but abandoned the trumpet at age seven. He formed his first trio in 1947; the group began weekly radio broadcasts from Montréal’s Alberta Lounge, and it was there in 1949 that he first met jazz impresario Norman Granz, who eventually became his manager. Granz brought Peterson to the United States for a 1949 concert in Carnegie Hall, followed by two tours with Granz’s Jazz at the Philharmonic groups.

Peterson launched a new trio in 1953 with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis. The trio recorded extensively and began to attract widespread popularity and acclaim. Ellis left the trio in 1959 and was replaced by a drummer, Ed Thigpen. This trio lasted until 1965. Between 1967 and 1972, Peterson recorded a series of 15 albums for the German MPS record label, including some solo piano recordings considered by many to be his finest work. In the mid-1970s Peterson began collaborating with Danish bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson and occasionally in trio format with American guitarist Joe Pass. Many jazz critics consider that Peterson derived his style from the great jazz pianist Art Tatum. While Peterson’s work reflected Tatum’s technical mastery and harmonic sophistication, the influence of pianists Nat “King” Cole, Teddy Wilson, James P. Johnson, and other early jazz masters was also evident.

Peterson won eight Grammy awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1997). In 1984 Peterson was invested as a companion of the Order of Canada, an honor conferred by the governor-general in recognition of outstanding achievement. His autobiography, A Jazz Odyssey: The Life of Oscar Peterson, appeared in 2002.