TORONTO, Ontario – It was a warm and slightly muggy Saturday night in Toronto. Standing outside of Massey Hall feeling horribly underdressed, I, like thousands of others, was here to see Jazz great Oscar Peterson. Taking his touring schedule much slower in his later years, it had been some time since he played his hometown and the anticipation was obvious. An empty stage bathed in red light came alive as the drummer entered and started the crowd off with a mid tempo beat. The bass player strolled in to lay down a very solid foundation for the guitar player who came out blazing. The band continued through the springy number as Oscar Peterson walked out to a booming applause.
If possible for such a looming physique, Oscar Peterson appeared quite frail as he positioned himself at the piano. This impression quickly disappeared as Peterson started playing the piano with the energy and vitality of someone half his age. The first song got a full airing and it allowed Oscar plenty of opportunity to stretch out on the solo and the whole band to warm up for the lengthy set that lay ahead.
Peterson’s mobility and attack are as strong as ever and his left hand rarely missed a bassline throughout the night. While still capable of his renowned “monster” style of playing — filling up the sound with as many notes as possible — the real moments of the night came when Peterson put his flash aside and played more sparse chords and soft melodies that floated up and away to the ornate ceiling of Massey Hall. Having played here before, Peterson obviously knew how to use the acoustics to his advantage.
Peterson used this spare style on a beautiful song — Tranquille — that was influenced on his last trip to Brazil. Showing off his versatility Peterson also played a song in the “classical” style entitled Prelude for J. L. for the late jazz musician John Lewis.
To no surprise the best responses of the night were to the blues numbers that Peterson played. The crowd contributed to this by showing nothing but positivity as the entire hall clapped along to the better part of the blues songs. Ending on a strong note, the quartet capped off the night with a strong version of Sweet Georgia Brown to which Oscar Peterson and his band received a standing ovation from a very grateful audience.
After playing a victorious show to a sold out Massey Hall the night was not over for Oscar Peterson. Backstage in the dressing room, Peterson was presented with an award from Grace Krigstin, founding director of the SkyNet Internet Collective. The Collective is a not-for-profit Canadian corporation that helps make the Internet accessible to the blind and disabled. Their annual Internet Person of the Year Award, whose past recipients include Steve Jobs and former Canadian Minister of Industry, John Manley, was given to Peterson for marketing and selling his music through his website, while also raising musical awareness and fostering creative exploration.
Peterson has often been pinpointed as one of the key figures that give hope to musicians that aspire to free themselves of obligations to record companies. He was extremely gracious upon receiving the award and stayed long after the show to greet fans and sign autographs.
It is easy to see why Oscar Peterson has become the legend that he has. With his great skill and his dedication to music, his fans, and his country, Canada should feel blessed to have an artist and humanitarian such as this to call their own.
