Black History Month, #5

I grew up with a lot of jazz in the house,  mostly big band and bebop, yet I somehow did not become aware of Oscar Peterson until we saw his statue on a trip to Ottawa. His music plays in the square there as he sits on a piano bench that is pulled out as if he is just about to start playing, or just finished a piece and is turning to the audience.  musicians.

This is his centennial, as he was born in Montreal in August of 1925. Peterson was an accomplished classical pianist at a young age.  (His other instrument, trumpet, went by the wayside after a childhood bout of TB affected his wind for good.) He discovered boogie woogie thanks to the thriving jazz scene in his neighborhood, and went on to compose, perform, and teach for 70 years. Late to the party though I am, in the past few years he’s been one of my go-to jazz artists.

C Jam Blues, Oscar Peterson