Another man done gone

[JRL]

TORONTO (AP) -- Oscar Peterson, whose early talent, speedy fingers and musical genius made him one of the world's best known jazz pianists, has died. He was 82.
Peterson died at his home in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga on Sunday, said Oliver Jones, a family friend and jazz musician. He said Peterson's family were with him during his final moments. The cause of death was kidney failure, said Mississauga's mayor, Hazel McCallion.
"He's been going downhill in the last few months," McCallion said, calling Peterson a "very close friend."
During an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Peterson played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie. He is also remembered for touring in a trio with Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar in the 1950s.
Peterson's impressive collection of awards include all of Canada's highest honors, such as the Order of Canada, as well as a Lifetime Grammy (1997) and a spot in the International Jazz Hall of Fame.
His growing stature was reflected in the admiration of his peers. Duke Ellington referred to him as "Maharajah of the keyboard," while Count Basie once said "Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard."

[senorsalvia]

Glad to see this thread...  NPR did a special segment on Oscar the day of his demise...  What was so shocking is that they told the tale of how, as a child, he had taken up trumpet but due to TB, he switched to the keyboard...  Then, when he had a stroke in the eighties and lost alot of the use of his left hand, the man merely figured out a way to compensate, and released an album within 6 months of the stroke!!!  I listened to a coupla cuts from that album and Gosh darn if senor could even tell he had an impairment................  sal

[judih]

yeah, he was an elegant, talented, superb player.
Saw him in a club in Toronto in '78, just a week before i made my little vacation to Israel (where i've been ever since).

Jazz is contagious and i'm highly infected. There was no innoculation against Oscar.

I wonder how many he got to.

[JRL]

Me too Judih, I am joyously terminal. and Oscar is partialy to blame. First time I toured with a band I was in Great Falls Montana and in a junk shop I found 3 records that changed my life: 1. The Essential Charlie Parker
                                                          2. Duster- Gary Burton
                                                         3. Oscar Peterson Trio

Never been the same again, 37 years later I am still groovin.