Jazz legend Oscar Peterson’s latest composition, Trail of Dreams Suite, is
inspired by the Trans Canada Trail, a 16 000 kilometre, recreational trail
that stretches from coast to coasts. Peterson describes Trail of Dreams
Suite–as performed by the Oscar Peterson Quartet and conducted by Michel
Legrand at an April, 2000 Roy Thomson Hall performance–as reflecting upon
“areas of Canada that aid and give it a personality place, so to speak, in
the world. I feel that the music speaks to the picturesque and photographic
scenic quality of various places in Canada that the Trans Canada Trail
passes through.”
Trail of Dreams Suite is reminiscent of Peterson’s first major 1964
recording, The Canadian Suite. His earlier work was inspired in part by
tales Peterson was told by his father, who had worked as a porter for
Canadian Pacific Railway.
Peterson’s impressive career is filled with the successes all
musicians
dream of, including more than 200 albums, his portrait on a United States
postage stamp, eight Grammies, a Juno, the prestigious Japanese Praemium
Imperiale award, and even Hall of Fame awards. In 1973 he was made an
Officer of the Order of Canada. With six decades of innovative recordings,
performances and compositions, Peterson is a national and international
musical treasure. He creates his music in a secluded Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada home.
Yet his career was not built in a day.
Born and raised in Montreal, Peterson is the fourth of five children. He
and his siblings were introduced to music by their father, who taught
himself how to play the piano when he was in the marines. Oscar Peterson
began playing piano at age five.
In high school, Peterson studied with accomplished classical pianist,
Hungarian Paul de Marky, who taught him piano technique including how to
obtain “speedy fingers.”
Many idols have influenced Peterson, including Teddy
Williams,
Nat (King)
Cole, James P. Johnson and the legendary Art Tatum. One of Peterson’s first
exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years
when his father played an Art Tatum record to him. Peterson was so
intimidated by what he heard that he didn’t touch the piano for over a
month.
At the tender of 14, a shy Peterson was prodded by his sister older Daisy to
audition for a CBC national amateur contest. Winning this contest opened
doors to performances on a weekly Montreal radio show called, Fifteen
Minutes’ Piano Rambling and a national CBC broadcast called, The Happy Gang.
Wishing to pursue his jazz career full-time, Peterson asked his parents if
he could drop out of high school. His father was less than enthusiastic.
He insisted that Peterson remain in school.
He continued to develop his music. By late 1947, Peterson led a trio at the
Alberta Lounge in Montreal. The group included Ozzie Roberts on bass and
Clarence Jones on drums. Jones was later replaced by guitarist Bernard
Johnson. A local radio station began to broadcast live from the Alberta once
a week
Two years later, at 24, Peterson received his most talked about break.
Famous jazz impresario Norman Granz was en route to Montreal’s Dorval
airport when he heard Peterson perform in a live broadcast on the car’s
radio. He instructed the cabdriver to redirect the car to the Alberta
Lounge where he was introduced to Peterson for the first time. Granz booked
Peterson for a guest appearance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall with a
traveling show created by Granz, Jazz at the Philharmonic. Peterson shared
the stage with sax jazz stars, Charlie Parker, Lester Young and Coleman
Hawkins.
Peterson played a duo with bassist Ray Brown which thrilled
the audience and
critics alike. A review by the New York editor of Downbeat magazine
described Peterson’s astonishing technical prowess as knocking the audience
“dead cold in its tracks.” Thus began Peterson’s lifelong relationship with
Granz; he became his manager for the next 30 years.
In 1951, Peterson began his successful international touring career with a
newly-formed trio which included now-legendary bass player, Ray Brown.
Today, Peterson is playing more solo recitals, doing less touring and more
composing. Arthritis is coming between the piano keys and his fingers, and
causes him occasional walking difficulty. Yet Peterson’s passion for the
piano perseveres. When he sits at the piano, his energy vibrates through
the listener. Arthritis and age have taken away some of the power in his
left hand, but his swinging ability is safely stored in his right hand.
Combine this with amazing technical proficiency and charisma and strength of
character and what results is the stuff that legendary careers are made of.
For more information about Peterson’s impressive career, visit his website
at http://www.oscarpeterson.com .
Trail of Dreams Suite was commissioned by Music Canada Musique 2000. A
Government of Canada funded programme under the Canada Millennium
Partnership Program (CMPP). The CMPP accepts proposals by Canadians who
wish to promote Canada’s history, youth, arts and culture, environment and
community development.
For more information about Music Canada Musique 2000, visit its website at:
http://www.mc2m.com .
Photographs by Janusz J.
UiberallDigital Journal.com
