Oscar Peterson
Background information
Birth name	Oscar Emmanuel Peterson
Born	15 August 1925(1925-08-15)
Origin	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	23 December 2007 (aged 82) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s)	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Pianist, composer
Instrument(s)	Piano
Years active	1945–2007
Label(s)	Mercury, MPS, Pablo, Telarc, Verve
Website	www.oscarpeterson.com

Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, CC, CQ, O.Ont. (15 August 1925 – 23 December 2007)^[1][2] was a Canadian jazz pianist, vocalist and composer cultural icon.^[3] He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends,^[4] and was a member of jazz royalty.^[5] He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career. He is considered to have been one of the greatest pianists of all time,^[6] who played thousands of live concerts to audiences worldwide in a career lasting more than 65 years. Chief Water Tender Oscar Peterson, USN Oscar Verner Peterson (August 27, 1899 – May 13, 1942) was a seaman in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor posthumously in World War II for his actions during the Battle of the Coral Sea. ... This article is about the day of the year. ... Year 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (well-being through harmony) Coordinates: , Country Province Region Montréal Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Motto: Pride in our past, Faith in our future Area: 288. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... A pianist is a person who plays the piano. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... Pianoforte redirects here. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Mercury Records is a record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. ... Pablo Records was a record label founded by Norman Granz in 1973. ... Telarc International Corporation is a Cleveland, Ohio based independent record label, founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods. ... Verve Records is an American Jazz record label, founded by Norman Granz in 1956, which absorbed the catalogues of his earlier labels: Norgran Records and Clef Records (founded 1953). ... Seal of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada is Canadas highest civilian honour, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the Orders Latin motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam, which means (those) desiring a better country (Hebrews 11. ... The National Order of Quebec (French: Ordre national du Québec) is an order of merit bestowed by the government of Quebec, Canada. ... The Order of Ontario is an award given in the Canadian province of Ontario. ... This article is about the day of the year. ... Year 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... A pianist is a person who plays the piano. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... American cultural icons. ... Major-General H.H. Farzand-i-Dilband Rasikh- al-Iqtidad-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Raja-i-Rajagan, Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh, Bahadur, Maharaja of Kapurthala, GCSI , GCIE , GBE The word Mahārāja (also spelled maharajah) is Sanskrit for great king or high king (a karmadharaya from mahānt great... This article is about the American Jazz composer and performer. ... Jazz royalty is a term that reflects the many great jazz musicians who have some sort of royal title in their names or nicknames. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Biography

Peterson grew up in the neighbourhood of Little Burgundy, Montreal. It was in this predominantly black neighbourhood that he found himself surrounded by the jazz culture that flourished in the early 20th century.^[7] At the age of five, Peterson began honing his skills with the trumpet and piano. However, by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he directed all his attention to the piano. His father, Daniel Peterson, an amateur trumpeter and pianist, was one of his first music teachers, and his sister, Daisy, taught young Oscar the classical piano. Young Oscar was persistent at practising scales and classical etudes daily, and thanks to such arduous practice he developed his astonishing virtuosity. Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (well-being through harmony) Coordinates: , Country Province Region Montréal Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Black Canadians or African Canadians are designations used for people of African descent who reside in Canada. ... Trumpeter redirects here. ... Pianoforte redirects here. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or Tuberculosis) is a common and deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, mainly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ...

As a child, Peterson also studied with Hungarian-born pianist Paul de Marky, a student of Istvan Thomán who was himself a pupil of Franz Liszt, so his training was predominantly based on classical piano. Meanwhile he was captivated by the traditional jazz and learned several ragtimes and especially the boogie-woogie. At that time Peterson was called "the Brown Bomber of the Boogie-Woogie."^[8] Liszt redirects here. ... Look up ragtime in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Boogie woogie has two different meanings: a piano based music style, boogie woogie (music) a dance that imitates the rocknroll of the 50s, boogie woogie (dance) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

At age nine Peterson played piano with control that impressed professional musicians. For many years his piano studies included four to six hours of practice daily. Only in his later years did he decrease his daily practice to just one or two hours. In 1940, at age fourteen, Peterson won the national music competition organized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After that victory, he dropped out of school and became a professional pianist working for a weekly radio show, and playing at hotels and music halls. Radio-Canada redirects here. ...

Influences

Some of the artists who influenced Peterson's musicianship during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson and Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years.^[9] One of his first exposures to Tatum's musical talents came early in his teen years when his father played Art Tatum's Tiger Rag for him, and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he became disillusioned about his own playing. In his own words, "Tatum scared me to death" and Peterson was "never cocky again" about his mastery at the piano.^[10] Tatum was a model for Peterson's musicianship during the 1940s and 1950s. Tatum and Peterson eventually became good friends, although Peterson was always shy about being compared with Tatum and rarely played the piano in Tatum's presence. Theodore Shaw Teddy Wilson (born November 24, 1912 in Austin, Texas-died July 31, 1986 in New Britain, Connecticut) was a United States jazz pianist. ... Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was a popular American jazz singer-songwriter and pianist. ... James Price Johnson (February 1, 1894 - November 17, 1955) was a pianist and composer. ... Arthur Tatum Jr. ... This article is about the tune. ...

Peterson has also credited his sister Daisy Sweeney — a noted piano teacher in Montreal who also taught several other noted Canadian jazz musicians — with being an important teacher and influence on his career. Under his sister's tutelage, Peterson expanded into classical piano training and broadened his range while mastering the core classical pianism from rigorous scales to such staples of every pianist's repertoire as preludes and fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach.^[11] Daisy Peterson Sweeney (born May 7, 1920 in Montreal) was a Canadian music teacher, known for having taught many of the most notable figures in Canadian jazz music. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (well-being through harmony) Coordinates: , Country Province Region Montréal Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... “Bach” redirects here. ...

Building on Art Tatum's pianism and aesthetics, Peterson also absorbed Tatum's musical influences, notably from piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff's harmonizations, as well as direct quotations from his second piano concerto, are thrown here and there in many recordings by Peterson, including his work with the Ray Brown and Herb Ellis trio, such as "When Your Lover Has Gone" and other pieces. During the 1960s and 1970s Peterson made numerous solo recordings that reveal more of his eclectic style that absorbed influences from various genres of jazz, popular and classical music. Rachmaninoff, in his later years, toured the United States extensively, and remained there from 1918 until his death. ...

Oscar Peterson's influence among jazz musicians is profound. Musicians who name Oscar Peterson as a major influence are countless. Among them are Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander, Detroit pianist / vocalist Johnny O'Neal and Birmingham pianist / vocalist Ray Reach. Monty Alexander (born Montgomery Bernard Alexander on June 6, 1944) in Kingston, Jamaica) is an American pianist. ... Johnny ONeal is an American jazz pianist from Detroit. ... Raymond E. Reach, Jr. ...

Norman Granz

An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve) and Granz's "Jazz at the Philharmonic" project. Granz discovered Peterson in a peculiar manner. As the impresario was being taken to the Montreal airport by cab, the radio was playing a live broadcast of Peterson at a local night club. Granz was so smitten by what he heard that he ordered the driver to take him to the club so that he could meet the pianist. In 1949, Granz introduced Peterson at a Carnegie Hall Jazz at the Philharmonic show in New York.^[12] An impresario is a manager or producer in one of the entertainment industries, usually Music or Theatre. ... Norman Granz (Los Angeles, USA, August 6, 1918 - Geneva, Switzerland, November 22, 2001), was an American jazz music impresario and producer. ... Verve Records is an American Jazz record label, founded by Norman Granz in 1956, which absorbed the catalogues of his earlier labels: Norgran Records and Clef Records (founded 1953). ... Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) was the title of a series of concerts and recordings produced by Norman Granz. ...

So was born a lasting relationship and Granz remained Peterson's manager for most of his career. One poignant illustration: in the last two years of his life, Peterson doted on a boxer dog that he named "Smedley," Peterson's nickname for Granz. On the day of Peterson's death, Smedley lay on the bed with him and would not leave.^[13]

This was more than a managerial relationship; Peterson praised Granz for standing up for him and other black jazz musicians in the segregationist south of the 1950s and 1960s. For example, in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's two-part documentary video Music in the Key of Oscar, Peterson tells how Granz stood up to a gun-toting southern policeman who wanted to stop the trio from using "white-only" taxis. The entire documentary is a fascinating account of Peterson's life from his Montreal childhood, to his career, to his family relations and includes interviews with Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones and Ella Fitzgerald. Its narrative ends in 1993, just before Peterson's debilitating stroke.^[14] The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the countrys national radio and television broadcaster. ...

In the course of his career, Peterson developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist and became a regular on Canadian radio from the 1940s. His name was already recognized in the United States. However, his 1949 debut at Carnegie Hall, New York City, arranged by Norman Granz, was uncredited; owing to union restrictions, his appearance could not be billed.^{[citation needed]} Carnegie Hall (generally pronounced )[3] is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Norman Granz (Los Angeles, USA, August 6, 1918 - Geneva, Switzerland, November 22, 2001), was an American jazz music impresario and producer. ...

Through Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Some of his musical associates included Ray Brown, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Anita O'Day, Fred Astaire, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz. Raymond Matthews Brown (October 13, 1926–July 2, 2002) was an American jazz double bassist. ... Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins, nicknamed Hawk and sometimes Bean, (November 21, 1901 or 1904 - May 19, 1969) was a prominent jazz tenor saxophone musician. ... Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909–September 20, 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. ... Milton (Milt) Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999) was an American jazz vibraphonist and one of the most important figures in the hard bop style. ... Mitchell Herbert (Herb) Ellis (born in 1921) is an American jazz guitarist. ... Cover of a Barney Kessel album. ... Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen (born December 28, 1930) is an American jazz drummer. ... Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (IPA: , May 27, 1946 – April 19, 2005) was a Danish jazz bassist known for his impressive technique and an approach that could be considered an extension of the innovative work of Scott LaFaro. ... Louis[1] Armstrong[2] (4 August 1901[3] – July 6, 1971), nicknamed Satchmo[4] and Pops, was an American jazz musician. ... Stéphane Grappelli (January 26, 1908 – December 1, 1997) was a French pioneer jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt. ... Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as Lady Ella and the First Lady of Song, is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th Century. ... New York City 1976 Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920 in St. ... Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua, January 13, 1929, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, died May 23, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a jazz guitarist. ... Anita ODay (October 18, 1919 – November 23, 2006) was an American jazz singer. ... Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987), born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska,[1] was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. ... William Count Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. ... For the Australian cricketer nicknamed Dizzy, see Jason Gillespie. ... Stanley Gayetzky (February 2, 1927 in Philadelphia – June 6, 1991 in Malibu, California), usually known by his stage name Stan Getz, was an American jazz saxophone player. ...

Duets

Peterson made numerous duo performances and recordings with bassists Ray Brown, Sam Jones, and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, guitarists Joe Pass, Irving Ashby, Herb Ellis, and Barney Kessel, pianists Count Basie, Herbie Hancock, Bennie Green, and Keith Emerson, trumpeters Clark Terry and Louis Armstrong, and many other important jazz players. His 1950s duo recordings with bassist Ray Brown mark the formation of one of the longest lasting partnerships in the history of jazz. Peterson's 1970's duo with guitarist Joe Pass has been considered one of the highest standards in the genre. Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (IPA: , May 27, 1946 – April 19, 2005) was a Danish jazz bassist known for his impressive technique and an approach that could be considered an extension of the innovative work of Scott LaFaro. ... Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua, January 13, 1929, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, died May 23, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a jazz guitarist. ...

According to pianist/educator Mark Eisenman, some of Peterson's best playing was as an understated accompanist to singer Ella Fitzgerald and trumpeter Roy Eldridge.^[15] Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as Lady Ella and the First Lady of Song, is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th Century. ... Roy David Eldridge (January 30, 1911 – February 6, 1989) was a jazz trumpet player in the Swing era. ...

Trio

Joe Pass and Oscar Peterson at Eastman Theatre Rochester in N.Y.

Peterson redefined the jazz trio by bringing musicianship of all three members to the highest level. The definitive trio with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis was, in his own words "the most stimulating" and productive setting for public performances as well as in studio recordings. In the early 1950s, Peterson began performing with Ray Brown and Charlie Smith as the Oscar Peterson Trio. Shortly afterward the drummer Smith was replaced by guitarist Irving Ashby, formerly of the Nat King Cole Trio. Ashby, who was a swing guitarist, was soon replaced by Barney Kessel.^[16] Kessel tired of touring after a year, and was succeeded by Herb Ellis. As Ellis was white, Peterson's trios were racially integrated, a controversial move at the time that was fraught with difficulties with segregationist whites and blacks. Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua, January 13, 1929, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, died May 23, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a jazz guitarist. ... Irving Ashby (1920–1987 was an American jazz guitarist. ... Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was a popular American jazz singer-songwriter and pianist. ... Cover of a Barney Kessel album. ... Mitchell Herbert (Herb) Ellis (born in 1921) is an American jazz guitarist. ...

"Oscar Peterson Trio at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival" is widely regarded as the landmark album in Peterson's career, and one of the most influential trios in jazz. Their last recording, "On The Town with the Oscar Peterson Trio", recorded live at the Town Tavern in Toronto, captured a remarkable degree of emotional as well as musical understanding between three players.^[17] All three musicians were equal contributors involved in a highly sophisticated improvisational interplay. When Herb Ellis left the group in 1958, Peterson and Brown believed they could not adequately replace Ellis. Ellis was replaced by drummer Ed Thigpen in 1959. Brown and Thigpen worked with Peterson on his famous albums Night Train and the successful Canadiana Suite. The two guys in 1965 left and were replaced by Sam Jones and Bobby Durham. The trio had performed together until 1970. The albums that they had done were a bunch of pop songs like The Beatles' Yesterday and Eleanor Rigby. In the fall of 1970, Peterson's trio were successful in their album Tristeza on Piano which was a eulogy of the recently deceased Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, the Monterey Pop Festival stars. This record was released on CD in 1999, went out of print, and then came back remastered in 2005 as an anniversary edition. Selections from this trio's work have been incidentally used for Japanese anime and other live action films. Jones and Durham left in 1970. Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen (born December 28, 1930) is an American jazz drummer. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Night Train is the brand name of an inexpensive high-alcohol content wine sold in the United States. ... The Canadiana Suite is a 1964 (see 1964 in music) album featuring a jazz trio, led by the Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. ... Sam, Samantha or Samuel Jones can refer to a number of different people. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Look up yesterday in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the novel by Douglas Coupland, see Eleanor Rigby (novel). ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943–October 4, 1970) was an American singer, songwriter, and music arranger, from Port Arthur, Texas. ... Poster promoting the festival The Monterey International Pop Music Festival took place from June 16 to June 18, 1967. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... // A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime (アニメ) is a style of cartoon animation originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background stylings that visually set it apart from other forms of animation. ... In film and video, live action refers to works that are acted out by flesh-and-blood actors, as opposed to animation. ...

In the 1970s Peterson formed another landmark trio with virtuoso guitarist Joe Pass and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen on bass. This trio emulated the success of the 1950's trio with Brown and Ellis, gave acclaimed performances at numerous festivals, and made best-selling recordings, most notably the 1978 double album recorded live in Paris. In 1974 Oscar added British drummer, Martin Drew, and this quartet toured and recorded extensively worldwide. Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua, January 13, 1929, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, died May 23, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a jazz guitarist. ... Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (IPA: , May 27, 1946 – April 19, 2005) was a Danish jazz bassist known for his impressive technique and an approach that could be considered an extension of the innovative work of Scott LaFaro. ...

Quartet

A quartet was a less permanent setting for Peterson, after the trio or duo, as it was hard to find equally powerful musicians available for a tightly knit arrangement with him. After the loss of Ellis his next trio eventually turned into a quartet after he added a drummer — first Gene Gammage for a brief time, then Ed Thigpen. In this group Peterson became the dominant soloist. Later members of the group were Louis Hayes, Bobby Durham, Ray Price, Sam Jones, George Mraz and Martin Drew.^[6] Edmund Leonard (Ed) Thigpen (born December 28, 1930) is an American jazz drummer. ... Born,May 31, 1937 in Detroit, MI A superior hard bop drummer who has led many groups of his own, Louis Hayes led a band in Detroit as a teenager and was with Yusef Lateef during 1955-1956. ... Ray Price (born January 12, 1926) is an American country and western singer. ... Sam, Samantha or Samuel Jones can refer to a number of different people. ... George Mraz (born Jiří Mráz on September 9, 1944 in Písek) is a jazz bassist and alto soxophonist. ... Martin Drew (born February 11, 1944 in Northampton) is an English jazz drummer. ...

Peterson often formed a quartet by adding a fourth player to his existing trios. He was open to experimental collaborations with jazz stars, such as saxophonist Ben Webster, trumpeter Clark Terry, and vibraphonist Milt Jackson among others. In 1961, the Peterson trio with Jackson recorded a highly praised album, Very Tall. Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909–September 20, 1973) was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. ... New York City 1976 Clark Terry (born December 14, 1920 in St. ... Milton (Milt) Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999) was an American jazz vibraphonist and one of the most important figures in the hard bop style. ...

Further career

From the late 1950s, when Peterson gained worldwide recognition as one of the leading pianists in jazz, he played in a variety of settings: solo, duo, trio, quartet, small bands, and big bands. However, his solo piano recitals, as well as his solo piano recordings were rare, until he chose to make a series of solo albums titled "Exclusively for my friends." These solo piano sessions, made for the Musik Produktion Schwarzwald (MPS) label, were Peterson's response to the emergence of such stars as Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner. William John Evans (better known as Bill Evans) (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and one of the most famous of the 20th century; he remains one of the major influences on post-1950s jazz piano. ... Alfred McCoy Tyner (born December 11, 1938) is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet. ...

Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for MPS in the late 1960s and early 1970s. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973.^{[citation needed]} In the 1990s and 2000s he recorded several albums accompanied by a combo for Telarc. Pablo Records was a record label founded by Norman Granz in 1973. ... Telarc International Corporation is a Cleveland, Ohio based independent record label, founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods. ...

In the 1980s he played successfully in a duo with pianist Herbie Hancock. In the late 1980s and 1990s, after the stroke, Peterson made performances and recordings with his protégé Benny Green. Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American jazz pianist and composer. ... Benny Green(born April 4, 1963 in New York City) is a hard bop jazz pianist who graduated from Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers. ...

Composer and teacher

Peterson wrote pieces for piano, for trio, for quartet and for big band. He also wrote several songs, and made recordings as a singer. Probably his best-known compositions are "Canadiana Suite" and "Hymn to Freedom," the latter composed in the 1960s and inspired by the U.S. civil rights movement.

Peterson taught piano and improvisation in Canada, mainly in Toronto. With associates, he started and headed the Advanced School of Contemporary Music in Toronto for five years during the 1960s, but it closed because concert touring called him and his associates away, and it did not have government funding.^[18] Later, he mentored the York University jazz program and was the Chancellor of the entire university for several years in the early 1990s. He also published his original jazz piano etudes for practice. However, he asked his students to study the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, especially the Well Tempered Clavier, the Goldberg Variations, and the The Art of Fugue, considering these piano pieces essential for every serious pianist. Pianists Benny Green and Oliver Jones were among his students.^[19] This article is about the Canadian university. ... “Bach” redirects here. ... Title-page of Das wohtemperierte Klavier A flat major (As-dur) fugue from the second part of Das wohtemperierte Klavier (manuscript) The Well-Tempered Clavier (Das wohltemperierte Klavier in German -- Klavier means piano, but the English word clavier (which means keyboard) looks more like the German title) consists of two... Title page of the Goldberg Variations (first edition) For other uses, see Goldberg Variations (disambiguation). ... A portrait which may show Bach in 1750 The Art of Fugue or The Art of the Fugue (original German: Die Kunst der Fuge), BWV 1080, is an unfinished work by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. ... Benny Green(born April 4, 1963 in New York City) is a hard bop jazz pianist who graduated from Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers. ... Oliver Theophilus Jones (born on September 11, 1934 in Montreals Little Burgundy district) is a Canadian jazz pianist, organist, composer and arranger. ...

Stroke and later years

Peterson had arthritis since his youth, and in later years could hardly button his shirt. Never slender, his weight increased to 125 kg (275 pounds), hindering his mobility. He had hip replacement surgery in the early 1990s.^[20] Although the surgery was successful, his mobility still was not good. Somewhat later, in 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. Also in 1993 incoming Prime Minister and longtime Peterson fan and friend Jean Chrétien offered Peterson the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, but according to Chrétien he declined, citing the health problems from his recent stroke.^[21] Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, usually known as Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ... This is a list of Lieutenant Governors of the Canadian province of Ontario. ...

After the stroke, Peterson recuperated for about two years. He gradually regained mobility and some control of his left hand. However, his virtuosity was never restored to the original level, and his playing after his stroke relied principally on his right hand.^[22] In 1995 he returned to public performances on a limited basis, and also made several live and studio recordings for Telarc. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award, another indication that Peterson continued to be regarded as one of the greatest jazz musicians ever to play. Canadian politician, friend, and amateur pianist Bob Rae contends that "a one-handed Oscar was better than just about anyone with two hands".^[23] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and... Hon. ...

In 2003, Peterson recorded the DVD A Night in Vienna for Verve, with Niels Pedersen, Ulf Wakenius and Martin Drew. He continued to tour the U.S. and Europe, though maximally one month a year, with a couple of days' rest between concerts to recover his strength. His accompanists consisted of Ulf Wakenius (guitar), David Young (bass),^[24] and Alvin Queen (drums), all leaders of their own groups. Look up verve in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Martin Drew (born February 11, 1944 in Northampton) is an English jazz drummer. ...

Peterson's health declined rapidly in 2007. He had to cancel his performance at the 2007 Toronto Jazz Festival and his attendance at a June 8, 2007 Carnegie Hall all-star performance in his honour, owing to illness. On 23 December 2007, Peterson died of renal failure at his home in Mississauga, Ontario.^[1] He left seven children, his fourth wife Kelly, and their daughter, Celine (born 1991). is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Renal failure or kidney failure is a situation in which the kidneys fail to function adequately. ... Motto: Pride in our past, Faith in our future Area: 288. ...

Awards and recognition

Musical awards and recognition

Begone Dull Care is an abstract film presentation of Oscar's music, released in 1949.

His work earned him seven Grammy awards over the years and he was elected to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1978. He also belongs to the Juno Awards Hall of Fame and the Canadian Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame. The Canadian Music Hall of Fame honors Canadian musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. ... The Juno Awards are awards of achievement presented to Canadian musical artists and bands. ...

Peterson received the Roy Thomson Award (1987), a Toronto Arts Award for lifetime achievement (1991), the Governor General's Performing Arts Award (1992), the Glenn Gould Prize (1993), the award of the International Society for Performing Artists (1995), the Loyola Medal of Concordia University (1997), the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1997), the Praemium Imperiale World Art Award (1999), the UNESCO Music Prize (2000), and the Toronto Musicians' Association Musician of the Year award (2001). The Glenn Gould Prize is an international award bestowed by the Glenn Gould Foundation. ... The Loyola Medal was re-established in 1990 as an award presented by Concordia University given to an outstanding individual who meets the specified criteria. ... This article is about Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. ... The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and... The Praemium Imperiale (Japanese 高松宮殿下記念世界文化賞) is a prize for artists that has been awarded since 1989 at the suggestion of the Emperor of Japan. ...

In 1999, Concordia University in Montreal renamed their Loyola-campus concert hall Oscar Peterson Concert Hall in his honour.^[25] This article is about Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. ...

In 2005, Peterson celebrated his 80th birthday at the HMV flagship store in Toronto, where a crowd of about 200 gathered to celebrate with him. Diana Krall sang happy birthday to him and also performed a vocal version of one of Peterson's songs "When Summer Comes". The lyrics for this version were written by Elvis Costello, Krall's husband. Canada Post unveiled a commemorative postage stamp in his honour. The event was covered by a live radio broadcast by Toronto jazz station, JAZZ.FM. Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC (born November 16, 1964) is a Grammy award-winning Canadian jazz pianist and singer. ... Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick McManus August 25, 1954) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. ... CJRT-FM is a Canadian public radio station, which broadcasts at 91. ...

Peterson received the BBC-Radio Lifetime Achievement Award, London, England.^[26] The BBC Jazz Awards were set up in 2001 and now have the status of one of the premier jazz awards in the UK. There are awards for Best Musician, Best Vocalist, Rising Star, Best Album, Jazz Innovation, Radio 2 Jazz Artist, Services to Jazz, Best of Jazz amongst others. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

"Technique is something you use to make your ideas listenable," he once told jazz writer Len Lyons. "You learn to play the instrument so you have a musical vocabulary, and you practice to get your technique to the point you need to express yourself, depending on how heavy your ideas are."

"Some may criticize Peterson for not advancing, for finding his niche and staying with it for an entire career, but while he may not be the most revolutionary artist in jazz, [the documentary] Music in the Key of Oscar demonstrates that breaking down barriers can be accomplished in more ways than one."^[27] "He was a crystallizer, rather than an innovator."^[22]

""His hands could do things few piano players can do," said pianist Bill King who studied with Peterson at his music school. Because Peterson was a big man — six feet three inches — he could stretch his hands over a keyboard in a way few musicians can match.^[28]

Ray Charles, in Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues - Piano Blues (2003), said "Oscar Peterson is a mother fucking piano player!" For Ray Charles, the composer and conductor of the Ray Charles Singers, see Ray Charles (composer). ... Piano blues refers to a variety of blues styles, sharing only the characteristic that they use the piano as the primary musical instrument. ...

"Miles Davis once commented, 'Nearly everything Peterson plays, he plays with the same degree of force. He leaves no holes for the rhythm section.' But this merely describes the difference between the two players; Davis did not have Peterson's powerful technique, and found a different kind of expression."^[6] Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991) was an American jazz musician, widely considered to be one of the most influential of the 20th century. ...

Recognition in Canada

Stamp issued by Canada Post in 2005

While Peterson was recognized as a great jazz pianist throughout the world, he was noted in Canada as also being a leading personage and public figure. This can be seen in the acclaim and awards he received, especially in the last twenty or so years of his life.

He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1972, and promoted to Companion, its highest rank, in 1984. He was also a member of the Order of Ontario, a Chevalier of the National Order of Quebec and an officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France. Seal of the Order of Canada The Order of Canada is Canadas highest civilian honour, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the Orders Latin motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam, which means (those) desiring a better country (Hebrews 11. ... The Order of Ontario is an award given in the Canadian province of Ontario. ... The National Order of Quebec (French: Ordre national du Québec) is an order of merit bestowed by the government of Quebec, Canada. ... The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Literature) is an Order of France, established on May 2, 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of lOrdre National du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. ...

From 1991 to 1994, Peterson was chancellor of York University in Toronto. The chancellor is the titular head of the university. Weeks after his death, the Province of Ontario announced a C$4 million scholarship for the "Oscar Peterson Chair" for Jazz Performance at York University with an additional C$1 million to be awarded annually in music scholarships to underprivileged York students in tribute to Peterson.^[28] This article is about the Canadian university. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... C$ redirects here. ... C$ redirects here. ...

Peterson's niece, television journalist Sylvia Sweeney, produced an award-winning documentary film, In the Key of Oscar, about Peterson in 1992. Sylvia Sweeney is a Canadian journalist and television producer. ...

Unlike almost any other jazz musician, Oscar Peterson was networked with Canadian elites in the later years of his life. For example, former Ontario premier Bob Rae recalled that in 2007, he, Ontario Chief Justice Roy McMurtry, and former Ontario premier Bill Davis celebrated McMurtry's retirement with Peterson, his wife, and their wives.^[29] This article is about the Canadian province. ... Hon. ... Roy McMurtry (right) accompanied by his wife, daughter, and a sample of his art work Roland Roy McMurtry (born May 31, 1932) is a judge and former politician in Ontario, Canada. ... For the artist, animator, creative director, see Bill Davis (artist) (animator) (computer games). ...

Peterson received honorary doctorates from many Canadian universities: Carleton University, Queen's University, Concordia University, McMaster University, Mount Allison University, the University of Victoria, the University of Western Ontario, York University, the University of Toronto, and the Université Laval, as well as from Northwestern University in the United States. This article is about the university in Ottawa, Ontario. ... Queens University, generally referred to simply as Queens, is a coeducational, non-sectarian public university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. ... This article is about Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. ... McMaster University is a highly regarded medium-sized research-intensive university located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with an enrollment of 18,238 full-time and 3,836 part-time students (as of 2006). ... Mount Allison University is a Canadian liberal arts university located in Sackville, New Brunswick. ... The University of Victoria (usually known as UVic, though originally as U of V) is located in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (northeast of Victoria). ... The University of Western Ontario (known as Western, as well as UWO or Western Ontario) is a research university located in London, Ontario. ... This article is about the Canadian university. ... The University of Toronto (U of T) is a public research university in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Université Laval (Laval University) is the oldest centre of education in Canada, and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French. ... Northwestern University (NU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university with campuses located in Evanston, Illinois and downtown Chicago. ...

In 2004, the City of Toronto named the courtyard of the Toronto-Dominion Centre "Oscar Peterson Square". The Toronto-Dominion Centre. ...

In 2005, the Peel District School Board in suburban Toronto opened the Oscar Peterson school in Mississauga, Ontario, two miles from his home. Peterson said, "This is a most unexpected and moving tribute."^[30] He visited the school several times and donated electronic musical equipment to it.^[22] Soon after Peterson's death, the University of Toronto Mississauga opened a major student residence in March 2008 as "Oscar Peterson Hall". ^[31] Motto: Pride in our past, Faith in our future Area: 288. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... U of T Mississauga Campus - South Building The University of Toronto Mississauga (U of T Mississauga or UTM), known as Erindale College until 2002, is a campus of the University of Toronto, with an enrollment of approximately 10,500 students. ...

Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien wanted to appoint Peterson to the titular post of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario in 1993, but Peterson felt that his health could not stand up to the many ceremonial duties that this position would require. "He was the most famous Canadian in the world," said Chrétien. Chrétien also said that Nelson Mandela glowed when meeting Peterson. "It was very emotional. They were both moved to meet each other. These were two men with humble beginnings who rose to very illustrious levels."^[32] Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, usually known as Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... For other people named Mandela, or other uses, see Mandela. ...

A major memorial concert, held on January 12, 2008, filled the 2500-seat Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. People had queued for more than three hours to get in. Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean reported at the concert that "thousands" more could not get in. Among the performers were Grégory Charles, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Phil Nimmons and singers Audrey Morris and Nancy Wilson. The "Oscar Peterson" quartet played key pieces; they are Monty Alexander, Jeff Hamilton, Ulf Wakenius and Dave Young. All toured with Peterson during his late "one-handed" period" except Alexander. Andrew Craig and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, with opera soprano Measha Brueggergosman closed the show, singing an excerpt from Peterson's "Hymn to Freedom". The show was made available for download.^[23] is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Roy Thomson Hall Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall in Toronto, Canada. ... Michaëlle Jean, CC CMM COM CD , (born September 6, 1957, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti) is the current Governor General of Canada. ... Grégory Charles (born February 12, 1968 in Montreal) is a performing artist of Canadian (European) and Trinidadian origin. ... Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award and Grammy award-winning American jazz pianist and composer. ... This article is about the producer and songwriter. ... Phillip Rista (Phil) Nimmons (born June 3, 1923) is a Canadian jazz clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and academic. ... Nancy Wilson is the name of two prominent American entertainers: An African-American singer and actress. ... The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is a Canadian choral group that specializes in Afrocentric music of all styles including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. ... Measha Brueggergosman (born on June 28, 1977 at Fredericton, New Brunswick) is a critically acclaimed Canadian soprano, who performs both as a concert artist and opera singer. ...

A movement was begun on Facebook to rename the Lionel-Groulx Metro station, a transfer station between Montreal's Green Line and Orange Line, in honour of Oscar Peterson. The Montreal Transit Corporation, however, has refused to end its moratorium on renaming Metro stations and the city's policy on landmark tributes are to await at least a year since a public figure's death.^{[33][34][35][36]} Facebook is a social networking website that was launched on February 4, 2004. ... Lionel-Groulx is a station of the Montreal Metro, located in the Saint-Henri area of the borough of Le Sud-Ouest. ... The Green (Line 1) line is one of the four lines of the Montreal metro. ... The Orange (Line 2) line is one of the four lines of the Montreal metro. ... The Société de transport de Montréal or Montreal Transit Corporation is the agency that operates buses and the Métro in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ...

Instruments

• Bösendorfer pianos - exclusively in the 1990s and 2000s
• Yamaha - Acoustic and Disklavier- 1998-2006 in Canada (Touring and Recording)
• Steinway & Sons pianos - most performances from 1940s through the 1980s, some recordings.
• Baldwin pianos - some performances in the USA, some recordings.
• C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik pianos - some performances and recordings in Europe.
• Celesta - on album "Porgy and Bess" with Joe Pass
• Fender electric piano - several recordings.
• Synthesizer - several recordings.
• Hammond organ - some live performances and several recordings.
• Vocals - some live performances and several recordings.

Bösendorfer (L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH) is an Austrian piano manufacturer, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha[1]. Bösendorfer pianos are noted for their dark, full-bodied sound compared with other top models. ... Yamaha may refer to: Yamaha Corporation – A manufacturer of a diverse range of musical instruments and electronics. ... Steinway & Sons grand piano on stage Steinway & Sons is a piano maker, since 1853 in New York City. ... Baldwin may refer to: // Baldwin is the name of several places in Canada: Baldwin, York Regional Municipality, Ontario Baldwin, Ontario Baldwin, Quebec Baldwin is the name of several places in the United States of America: Baldwin, Florida Baldwin, Georgia Baldwin, Illinois Baldwin, Iowa Baldwin, Louisiana Baldwin, Maine Baldwin, Maryland Baldwin... C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik AG (FWB:BEP) (Bechstein) is a German manufacturer of pianos, especially grand pianos. ... French type, four-octave Celesta The Celesta (IPA ) is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. ... Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua, January 13, 1929, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, died May 23, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a jazz guitarist. ... A Rhodes piano A Rhodes piano is an electromechanical musical instrument, a brand of electric piano. ... Synth redirects here. ... The Hammond organ is an electric organ which was invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company until the 1970s. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ...

Discography

Further information: Oscar Peterson discography

This article contains a partial listing of the jazz pianist Oscar Petersons original LP albums from his career. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Scott Yanow is a jazz commentator who has written for many magazines and websites including: Allmusic, JAZZIZ, CODA and The LA Jazz Scene. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Sylvia Sweeney is a Canadian journalist and television producer. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 360th day of the year (361st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini/Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Oscar Peterson

• Alan Hustak, Jazz Legend, Oscar Peterson, dies at 82, The Montreal Gazette, 24 December 2007
• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation full obituary, December 24, 2007
• CBC Digital Archives: Oscar Peterson: A Jazz Giant
• Image of the Oscar Peterson postage stamp
• Jazz Giant The Oscar Peterson Discography
• John Fordham, Oscar Peterson (obituary), The Guardian, 25 December 2007
• Live performance photographs Jazz Alley, Seattle, 29 June 2004
• Marian McPartland and Oscar Peterson on NPR
• Oscar Peterson official website
• Oscar Peterson video interview in which his passion for photography is discussed
• Oscar Peterson, A Portrait, 2002
• Oscar Peterson on Jazz Police
• Oscar Peterson's Concert Hall
• Oscar Peterson entry at the Jazz Discography Project
• Oscar Peterson: A Jazz Sensation--A Virtual Exhibition from Library and Archives Canada
• Oscar Peterson Tribute: Feelings from the Heart. From The Living Arts Centre, February 14, 2008.
• Oscar Peterson (Obituary), The Telegraph, 26 December 2007
• Oscar Peterson (obituary), The Times, 26 December 2007
• Steve Voce, Oscar Peterson: Virtuoso pianist who dominated jazz piano in the second half of the 20th century (obituary), The Independent, 26 December 2007