A Jazz Odyssey

by Peterson, Oscar; Palmer, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780826458070
• ISBN10: 0826458076
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: Continuum Intl Pub Group

Summary

Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson is, in the words of Quincy Jones, "one of the greatest musicians on the planet." Born in Montreal in 1925 to immigrant parents of West Indian origin, he soon revealed himself to be a musical prodigy. He was still in his teens when he became the star attraction of Canada's leading big band, the renowned Johnny Holmes Orchestra, and had just turned twenty when he made his first trio recordings for RCA. During the 1950s he demonstrated another side to his musical genius, becoming a brilliant accompanist for jazz impresario Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic tours and on myriad recording sessions. He was the ideal foil for a host of musicians including Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday. Despite a stroke in 1993, he continues to perform and record, making more music and swinging harder than most pianists accomplish in their prime. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Richard Palmer read English at Cambridge and has a doctorate in American studies from the University of East Anglia. A lifelong jazz fan, he has been a staff writer for Jazz Journal International since the 1970s

Table of Contents

Prefatory Note	p. ix
Cast of Characters	p. xi
The Key to Oscar
Canada
Beginnings	p. 5
Early Teachers	p. 11
My Dad: Daniel Peterson	p. 14
The Formative Years	p. 19
Subcultures and Bigotry	p. 24
Runs, Chords, and Girls	p. 29
Decisions, Decisions	p. 35
From Sixteen to Three	p. 44
Collie Ramsey: Mystery Piano Player	p. 52
Departure and Arrival--Part One	p. 56
Departure and Arrival--Part Two	p. 59
America: The 1950s
Early American Days	p. 65
From Duo to Trio	p. 76
Herbie's Story	p. 79
Trio Control and Growth	p. 82
Membership Flow in the Trio (I): The 1950s	p. 85
Early Trio Life and Dealing with the Road	p. 89
The Dinner Battles	p. 92
A Different Kind of Taping	p. 94
The Bus--Part One	p. 94
The Bus--Part Two	p. 97
Kissing Bandit	p. 99
Ice-Gream Charlie Does It Again	p. 101
The Slasher	p. 102
The Return of the Dallas Flash	p. 103
Five Cameos	p. 105
The Knowledgeable Media	p. 106
The Southern Draught	p. 107
Norman Granz
Norman Granz: Reluctant Genius	p. 115
Norman the Gourmand	p. 131
Lifetime Achievement Grammy	p. 133
Jazz People
Coleman Hawkins: The Enigma	p. 139
Meet the President: Lester Young	p. 150
The Legend Is Real: Lady Fitz	p. 155
Billie Holiday: The Mysterious Lady Day	p. 165
The Lady Day Sessions	p. 172
Buddy Rich	p. 174
Roy (Speedy Gonzales) Eldridge	p. 176
Harry Edison	p. 180
Bill Harris	p. 182
Stuff Smith	p. 185
Stan Getz and Zoot Sims	p. 187
Carmen McRae: The Special One	p. 189
The Other Lady Day: Anita O'Day	p. 191
A Glance at My Confreres in the Piano World	p. 193
Wynton Kelly: Brimsha Man	p. 200
In the Studio: The Proving Ground	p. 201
The Verve Charlie Parker Jam Session	p. 207
The Role of the Accompanist	p. 209
More Keys: The 1960s Onward
The Percussive Group: Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen	p. 219
The Night Train Album	p. 222
Membership Flow in the Trio (2): 1960s and 1970s	p. 223
The Long and the Short of It	p. 227
The MPS Years	p. 229
Those Unrelenting Bassists	p. 236
Persuasive Percussion	p. 250
Joe Pass: Guitar Eternal	p. 254
Porgy And Bess with Joe Pass	p. 257
Hangout in Japan	p. 258
Duke Ellington: Monarch Supreme	p. 262
The Trumpet Kings	p. 264
Clark Terry: Unsung Hero	p. 268
Ronnie Scott: "The Rev"	p. 271
Mr. Pretty: Alan Claire	p. 273
Four Vignettes	p. 274
Paul de Marky's Chopin-like Eggs	p. 279
Benny Green: Critic Supreme	p. 280
"Oscar's Piano Parties"	p. 281
The Hands Hassle	p. 288
Preparation for Solo Piano Performance	p. 291
Pianos: My Lifelong Friends	p. 296
The Electronic Revolution	p. 305
Promoters and Their Ways	p. 308
The Royal Wedding Album	p. 311
The New Quartet	p. 312
The Order of Canada	p. 313
The Glenn Gould Prize	p. 314
The Praemium Imperiale	p. 315
Matters Political
Bigotry Starts Early	p. 319
Nigger!	p. 322
My Favourite Politician	p. 325
Pitfalls of the Profession	p. 326
Cultural Politics: The Betrayal of Jazz	p. 329
Matters Personal
True Moments of Greatness: The Outdoorsman	p. 343
The Great Hotels of the World	p. 347
The Continual Search for True Friends	p. 353
Night Child	p. 358
Marriage and Fatherhood	p. 359
Surgery; Resurgence; Stroke!	p. 365
The Perfect Retreat	p. 368
The Elusive Control of Emotion	p. 370
The Will to Perfection	p. 372
Index	p. 375
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